What is LeBron James' Net Worth and Salary?
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $800 million. After setting the high school basketball world on fire, LeBron James skipped college and was drafted as the #1 pick by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the 2003 NBA draft. LeBron played for the Cavs from 2003 to 2010. He then "took his talents" to Miami, where he played for the Heat from 2010 to 2014. He led the Heat to two NBA championships, 2012 and 2013. He returned to the Cavs from 2014 to 2018, winning a championship in 2016. In 2018, he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers. He won a championship with LA in 2020.
As of this writing, he is the third-highest-paid player in the NBA in terms of salary alone. His annual base salary is $52 million. On February 7, 2023, LeBron surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
Outside of sports, LeBron is one of the highest-earning and globally powerful celebrities on the planet. He earns more than $60-90 million per year in endorsements and has a $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike. He has parlayed his fame and wealth into a veritable business empire, with investments in a number of startups. He is a part owner of Liverpool F.C., Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, RFK Racing, A.C. Milan, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. At his current earnings and investment pace, LeBron James will become a billionaire in 2030.
Annual Income
Every year, LeBron James earns around $45 million in salary from the NBA and roughly $55 million from endorsements. That brings his total annual income to more than $100 million. Between June 2016 and 2017, LeBron earned $86 million. Between June 2017 and June 2018, LeBron earned $85.5 million. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned another roughly $85 million. From June 2021 to June 2022, his earnings skyrocketed to $121.2 million. LeBron's 2022-2023 on-court salary plus endorsements brought his latest salary to $119.5 million.
Salary & Career Earnings
As of this writing, LeBron has earned slightly over $800 million from contracts and endorsements during his career (before taxes and expenses).
During his first ten seasons in the NBA, LeBron James earned just over $126 million in salary alone. During that same time period LeBron earned an estimated $326 million from endorsements. That's $452 million from his first decade as a professional. LeBron signed a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Lakers.
In August 2022, he signed a two-year $99.02 million deal with the Lakers. By the time that contract is up in 2025, LeBron will have earned more than $530.8 million in NBA salaries. In July 2024, LeBron signed a two-year, $102 million deal with the Lakers. By the end of the 2026 season, LeBron's NBA salary earnings alone will be $583 million.
Endorsement Deals
LeBron has endorsement deals with dozens of companies, including McDonald's, Microsoft, State Farm, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Samsung, Nike, and more. In addition to endorsing Beats by Dre, LeBron also owned 1% of the company. He earned royalty payments totaling $1 million during his years as a spokesman. When the company sold to Apple for $3 billion, LeBron's cut was $30 million. In 2011, James co-founded the designer retail store UNKNWN in Miami.
Nike Deal
LeBron signed his first Nike endorsement deal at the age of 18. The deal paid $90 million over seven years, $12.8 million per year. He actually was offered $115 million to sign with Reebok.
Today, LeBron earns $20 million per year from Nike in the form of salary and royalty payments for his signature shoe line.
In December 2015, LeBron signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike that ultimately could be worth more than $1 billion. It is the very first lifetime deal Nike had ever offered and reportedly the largest deal in the company's history.
Contracts
As most people know, LeBron skipped college and went straight to the pros as the first pick of the 2003 NBA draft by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. His first contract paid $18.8 million over four years. He signed a three-year $60 million extension with the Cavs before the 2007-2008 season that upped his annual salary from $5.8 million to $13 million, $14.4 million, and finally $15.8 million for the 2009-2010 season. Heading into the 2011 season, LeBron infamously announced his intention to leave Cleveland for Miami with a televised special called "The Decision." While he would be derided for the seemingly arrogant television special for years, "The Decision" raised roughly $6 million for charity. When LeBron moved to Miami, he took a lower-than-market rate of $110 million over six years. He did this because he (rightly) predicted he could win an NBA Championship in Miami along with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. In his first season with The Heat he actually earned $1.2 million LESS than what he was making in Miami.
After four seasons with The Heat, LeBron returned to Cleveland ahead of the 2014-2015 season. During his years in Cleveland, LeBron purposely chose 1-year contracts to maximize his earnings potential each subsequent season as the NBA salary cap rose.
In 2016, fresh off winning the NBA championship, LeBron signed a three-year $100 million deal with the Cavs. In the first year, he made $23 million. In the second year, he made $30.963 million, which also made him the highest-paid player in the league for the first time in his career. In the third year of the deal, he made a league-leading $33.285 million.
Ahead of the 2018-2019 season, LeBron moved from the Cavs to the Lakers with a four-year $153 million deal that pays an average annual salary of $38 million.
In November 2020, LeBron and the Lakers announced a two-year $85 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2023. That works out to $42.5 million per year in base NBA salary. In August 2022, the sides agreed on another two-year extension, this time worth the $99.02 million veteran maximum. This contract will make LeBron James the highest-paid player in NBA history at more than $530.8 million, surpassing Kevin Durant in all-time earnings.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Will LeBron James Be A Billionaire?
Within the next decade, but more on that in a moment. Before he becomes a net-worth billionaire, LeBron first must join the billion-dollar athlete club. That club currently has six members: Michael Schumacher ($1 billion), Floyd Mayweather ($1.1 billion) Jack Nicklaus ($1.15 billion), Arnold Palmer ($1.35 billion), Tiger Woods ($1.65 billion) and Michael Jordan ($1.9 billion).
When you combine his new salary and upcoming endorsements, LeBron's career earnings easily top $100 million every year over his four years in LA. Perhaps closer to $110 or $120 million. LeBron will likely retire in 2026 with around $1.1 billion in career total earnings. By our estimate, if LeBron follows in the footsteps of legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant, his net worth will surpass $1 billion in 2030.
Early Life
LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. When LeBron was just an infant, his mother gave him a miniature hoop and basketball, which he played with for hours. Soon, basketball became LeBron's life, and when he was old enough to play for his elementary school, he excelled immediately on the court. LeBron attended St Vincent-St Mary High School where, as a sophomore, he became the youngest person ever to join the USA Today All-USA first team. In his junior year, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. It was also around this time that he became known as "King James." James began to appear on the cover of "SLAM" magazine and Sports Illustrated even though he was still in high school. It was clear to everyone that LeBron was destined to be an NBA superstar.
LeBron James was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. During his first season, he was the youngest player to ever score 40 points in a single game, as well as the youngest player ever to be voted Rookie of the Year. In addition to playing for the Cavaliers, he has also played for the United States Olympic basketball team and won bronze and gold medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, respectively. In 2012 and 2013, LeBron and The Miami Heat won the NBA championship. He was also voted MVP of both series.
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Personal Life and Real Estate
James has three children with his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. The couple married in September 2013 in San Diego, California.
When they lived in Miami, the James family lived in a mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. He paid $9 million for the home in November 2010. In October 2014, LeBron listed this home for sale for $17 million. He ultimately accepted $13.4 million in August 2015.
In November 2015, LeBron bought a 9,350-square-foot mansion in LA's Brentwood neighborhood for $21 million. At the time it was the highest price paid for a home in the neighborhood. He attempted to sell this home for about a year but ultimately accepted a slight loss when he sold it in September 2021 for $19.6 million.
In November 2017, LeBron plunked down $23 million for a new mansion in Brentwood.
In September 2020, LeBron paid $36.8 million for a mansion in Beverly Hills. In 2023, LeBron had this home demolished with plans to build his dream home on the property.
Back in Ohio, LeBron owns one of the most expensive homes in the Cleveland area. Located in Bath Township, the home, which LeBron had custom-built, is valued at $9.5 million by Ohio tax authorities. It has 20 total rooms in 30,000 square feet of living space. He bought the property back in 2003 when he was 18, fresh after joining the NBA.
SpringHill Entertainment
LeBron and his business partner Maverick Carter are the co-founders of production company SpringHill Entertainment. The company has produced movies, documentaries, and television shows.
Blaze Pizza
In 2012, LeBron decided to invest in a pizza startup called Blaze Pizza. At the time, he was under contract with McDonald's. In 2017, LeBron actually turned down a $15 million extension offer from McDonald's so he could go all-in with Blaze Pizza. As of this writing, he owns at least 21 Blaze pizza franchises, and the company is one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains of all time. LeBron's equity stake at the company's latest valuation is worth $40 million.
Fenway Sports Group
While it is LeBron's ultimate goal to own an NBA team, in the meantime, he'll have to make-do with owning a soccer team. In 2011, LeBron struck a deal to acquire a 2% stake in Liverpool F.C. from the club's majority owners, the Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Red Sox). In the years since the deal was struck, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League tournament and has grown to be worth $2 billion. LeBron's stake is worth at least $40 million.
In 2021, James joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner, making him part owner of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and RFK Racing in addition to Liverpool F.C.
Quotes on Success
"I'm going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it."
"You can't be afraid to fail. It's the only way you succeed – you're not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that."
