(Bloomberg) — LeBron James has lengthy made clear his aspirations to cement his billionaire standing by proudly owning an NBA franchise.
However, for now, the 39-year-old nonetheless ranks among the many league’s superstars, and is raking in a record-breaking quantity on the court docket as a substitute.
James agreed to a two-year, $104 million cope with the Los Angeles Lakers, in response to an individual accustomed to the matter. That’s probably the most ever for somebody his age and would put his internet value at nearly $1.5 billion together with this upcoming season’s wage, in response to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The contract confirms that James will notice a long-held aim of enjoying together with his son Bronny James Jr., 19, who was drafted by the Lakers final week and reportedly agreed to a four-year, $7.9 million contract.
The senior James, who’s coming into his twenty second season within the NBA, holds the league’s all-time scoring document and averaged 25.7 factors per sport final 12 months, placing him within the prime 15 gamers within the league.
Dubbed “King James” since his prodigious high-school profession led the Cleveland Cavaliers to pick him with first decide of the 2003 NBA draft, he’s the wealthiest present participant. One other one of many NBA’s greats, Michael Jordan, is value greater than $4 billion after promoting his stake within the Charlotte Hornets final 12 months.
Learn Extra:
LeBron James, Now NBA Prime Scorer, Builds a $1.1 Billion Fortune
Michael Jordan Is Richest NBA Legend With a $3.5 Billion Fortune
James’ wealth is made up of a combination of his NBA wage in addition to sponsorships, investments and his personal client and leisure enterprise, the SpringHill Co.
SpringHill was valued at about $725 million in 2021 after James and enterprise associate Maverick Carter offered a minority stake to a bunch of traders, together with Nike Inc. He has a sponsorship cope with the shoemaker that’s anticipated to usher in $1 billion over his lifetime, and he collected over $100 million from the sale of Beats Electronics to Apple Inc. in 2014.
He additionally holds a extensively diversified portfolio of investments, together with a 1% stake in Fenway Sports activities Group, proprietor of MLB’s Boston Purple Sox, the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Liverpool Soccer Membership.
