LeBron James makes it to Top 10 among sports billionaires on Forbes’ 2023 World’s Billionaires list
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James has made it to the top 10 in Forbes magazine's 2023 World's Billionaires rankings. James was the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, which was a historical achievement for him and the entire league.
LeBron isn't the only athlete to make it to the list, as there are 11 more who have made it this year. Like the four-time MVP, Tiger Woods became the first athlete to reach a billion while still playing in their respective sports. Some of the athletes who made the list were Toto Wolff and Mark Davis.
In June 2022, James was named a billionaire by Forbes. No one is sure which NBA player will follow him. However, with the way NBA players are earning in the modern age, there's a chance that other stars will reach this level of success.
What is LeBron James' net worth?
LeBron James has been making millions throughout his NBA career since getting drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2003. Due to how talented and big he is as a personality, James has collected a ton of endorsement deals, which has helped him grow his finances.
James has been signed to endorse well-known brands like Nike, Beats by Dre and Samsung. With those deals, he's racked up a ton of earnings and isn't done playing yet. According to Forbes, the 19-time All-Star has a net worth of $1 billion. The Lakers have LeBron under contract until next season. He also has a player option for the 2024-25 season, which could allow him to earn a guaranteed $50.6 million.
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LeBron James' top 3 endorsement deals
Due to his massive marketability and popularity, brands have pursued LeBron James to promote their products. Before the season started, we gathered some of the biggest endorsement deals that LeBron has acquired.
#3 Samsung
James had an incredible five-year partnership with Samsung that spanned from 2012 to 2017. It featured a ton of marketing and commercials for the famous electronic company.
#2 Beats by Dre
LeBron had the chance to sign with Beats before it was acquired by Apple. It started in 2008, when the current Lakers star signed and earned almost $1 million in each of his commercials.
#1 Nike
His partnership with Nike is one of the biggest and most well-known to fans. LeBron's deal with the shoe company started in 2003 and their relationship has grown stronger since then.
He currently earns up to $32 million per year from Nike.
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