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How LeBron James Achieved a Net Worth of $800 Million

LeBron James is a basketball legend who is in the running for greatest player of all time (GOAT for short). This NBA legend won multiple titles with the Miami Heat, one with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, and also with the Los Angeles Lakers. This makes him one of just four players to win championships with three teams, though James was the biggest reason for his teams' successes.

As a result, LeBron James net worth is among the highest of all active athletes. Much of his money has come from his time as a basketball player, though he has earned money outside of his salary, including endorsement deals and other business partnerships. Understanding LeBron James net worth requires a deep look at the kind of ways that athletes often make cash.

LeBron James Net Worth

LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio, to a mother who was just 16 and a father who was not involved with his life at all. Early life was a struggle for the young man, though his mother provided for him as well as she could. She made the hard decision to let him move in with Frank Walker at a young age, a local football coach who helped LeBron learn basketball.

His early success as a young player helped him become a highly-recruited high school player who was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. Eventually, James was able to convert his skills into a successful career that has earned him a lot of money: reports estimate that he has made at least $1 billion during his career, with nearly $400 million in salary and over $600 million off the court.

However, LeBron James is technically not considered a billionaire, in spite of reports to the contrary. As of 2022, he is worth between $500 to $800 million, depending on his endorsement deals, real estate purchases, and business deals. Though James will be a billionaire before he turns 40 in 2024, he has yet to reach that lofty net value. Why is he not a billionaire in spite of earning over a billion dollars?

This debate is important to understand because it highlights common misunderstandings about a person's value. Many people think that just because a person has made a lot of money they're worth that much cash. However, life as an athlete and celebrity isn't cheap, especially not for someone of James' stature.

The Billionaire Debate

It is true that LeBron James has made $1 billion in his career but has also invested in many things, such as real estate purchases, homes for his mother, and travel costs. James has also given money to charities, including cash from his salary, and supports many causes. Furthermore, James also spends a small fortune to educate his children and take care of his body as well.

In fact, this latter investment is one of his biggest, as he reportedly spends at least $1.5 million every year on personal trainers and support staff who take care of his health. These include people who check in on his physical health and help him stay strong in the off-season. As he nears 40, James' body is going to start injuring more easily and paying closer attention to its needs is paramount.

So, while it might seem ridiculous to some people to pay that much money to stay in shape, it makes sense from his perspective. His entire financial empire is centered on his legendary skills as a basketball player. If his skills deteriorate or he gets injured for too long, James can't play basketball. As a result, his endorsement deals may end up disappearing and his income decreasing.

Charity Work Also Eats Into His Net Worth

Furthermore, James uses his heavy paychecks to help fund various charities, including his family foundation that provides $20 million into the public elementary system, including giving $1 million a year so that schools can keep class sizes smaller for better education. Overall, he's given close to $100 million through his various charities and directly from his income.

This type of charity work is very noble and is not uncommon from people like James who come from modest backgrounds and become major stars. However, it definitely eats into his net worth and is one reason why he is not a billionaire yet. That said, James has never expressed anything but happiness with his position as a charitable contributor.

James Earned Much of His Money In Basketball

There's no doubt that LeBron James net worth has been heavily created by his basketball career. As mentioned previously, it is estimated that he's made at least $400 million with his on-the-court play. Interestingly, he didn't start out his career heavily paid. He earned a reasonable $4 million rookie contract in 2003 that gradually increased with each season that he played with the team.

By 2007 he was making $13 million a year and when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was making almost $16 million. James' move to Miami in 2010 saw him take a slight pay decrease to $14.5 million, though he was earning $20 million with the team by 2013. After earning championships here, he eventually came back to the Cavs in 2014 and earned a $20 million paycheck.

After bringing Cleveland it's first championship as a city with the Cavaliers, James was making $3 million per year in 2017 before leaving for Los Angels in 2018. He currently earns around $42 million with the Lakers and is likely to continue earning a similar paycheck for many years. James is still one of the best basketball players on the planet and could earn another championship with the Lakers in the near future.

Other Investments That Make LeBron Rich

Though over half of LeBron James net worth value comes from his basketball work, more of it comes from endorsements and various business deals. James has long been one of the smartest athletes and his intelligent investments have continually earned him significant money. These include multiple endorsements, such as a $1 billion lifetime endorsement deal with Nike. Though James hasn't collected all the money from that deal, it could make him a multi-billionaire when it completes.

The SpringHill Company

Named after the complex where he grew up with business partner, Maverick Carter, SpringHill focuses on helping people who need support and includes his marketing agency, a production film, and a platform for athletes to communicate directly with their fans. It has a conservative value of about $750 million, with James having at least $300 million worth of stake in this business. It has significantly expanded in recent years and is considered a strong platform for athlete entertainment marketing.

Other Investments

LeBron James also owns at least $100 million in real estate, has a $70 million take in the Fenway Sports Group, and invested $30 million into Blaze Pizza. It is also estimated that he has $350 million in other investments, including luxury cars, stock in Beach Body, Ladder, and other businesses that support athletes, sports, and other professionals in various unique ways. In this way, James has created a massive investment profile that keeps him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams as a poor youth in Ohio.

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Garrett Parker

Written by Garrett Parker

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

Read more posts by Garrett Parker

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