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.
