Nike-Endorsed Star LeBron James Joins The Billionaires Club

Nike-Endorsed Star LeBron James Joins The Billionaires Club

Nike’s life-sponsored NBA all star Lebron James has become the first active player who’s fortune surpasses $US1 billion ($1.3 billion).

The four-times champion (pictured above) has made over $167 million in the last year alone, thanks to his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and his endorsements with Nike and other companies. His was the second-highest amount of any other athlete throughout the year, with Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina football star Lionel Messi topping the list, with the adidas endorsed footballer approaching the amount of $180 million.

The LA Lakers superstar is now worth $1.6 billion ($US1.2 billion), a goal which he had set out for himself quite a while ago.

“I want to maximize my business,” James told GQ in 2014. “And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my god. I’m gonna be excited.”

Apart from being a -highly successful- basketball player (and the NBA’s all-time second scorer!), Lebron is also heavily involved in the business industry. In fact, according to Forbes, close to $670 million of Lebron’s net worth comes from his investments.

Separate from his life-endorsement with Nike, James is the co-founder of the SpringHill production company (that made the movie he starred in, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy), he owns shares in restaurant chain Blaze Pizza and he’s part-owner of the Fenway Sports Group, which includes, among others, the football club – and UEFA Champions League finalists – Liverpool F.C.

James sold a minority stake in SpringHill last year, which was valued at almost $1 billion, to a consortium of investors including Nike, Epic Games, Redbird Capital Partners and Fenway Sports Group.

The 37-year-old, who just completed his 19th year as a professional NBA player, first signed with Nike in 2015 for the ground-breaking amount of $1.3 billion. Apart from the Lakers, Lebron is also a former player of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.

 

 




Please login with linkedin to comment

LeBron James Nike

Latest News

Cosmo Returns To Australia!
  • Media

Cosmo Returns To Australia!

Ever get the feeling we've weirdly warped back to 1988 at the moment? Confirm it with the relaunch of Cosmo in print.

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
  • Media

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm

Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
  • Advertising

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA  Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]