LeBron James often makes history on and off the court. Most recently, he became the first player to win Finals MVP for three different franchises. Earlier this year, Forbes listed James as the fifth highest-paid athlete of 2020 in the world.
James has spent 17 years playing in the NBA with an average $40 million annual salary, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2018, he signed a four-year $153 million contract with the LA Lakers.
He has the highest endorsement portfolio of any player in the league, making $60 million in endorsements alone from Nike to Samsung and McDonald’s, according to Forbes.
James’ $480 million net worth — according to Celebrity Net Worth — is also comprised of investments made outside of the league. In 2012, James invested $1 million into Blaze Pizza which has now become a large chain restaurant and has grown into a $35 million investment, as reported by Sportscasting.
Another major money move James made was investing in Beats by Dre headphones. In 2008, he became a brand ambassador for the product, appearing in several commercials and advertisements, in exchange for a one percent stake in the company, Sportscasting reports.
Fast forward to 2014, Dr. Dre sold the company to Apple for a whopping $3 billion and James received a $700 million cut.
James is known to be an all-around sports fan, from tennis to football. Back in 2011, he received a two percent stake in Liverpool FC valued at $6.5 million, according to Sportscasting.
The team was valued at $2.2 billion by Forbes in 2019. Now, based on the club’s current value, James’ investment has grown to $43 million.
James is a decorated athlete and was dubbed “King James” because of his talents in basketball. However, his moves in the business world are sure to grow his legacy and empire even more.
