LeBron James Net Worth

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. Contrary to what you might have seen reported by other wealth estimating publications, LeBron James is not actually a billionaire yet, by our count. Much more on this point in the next section below.

LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, with a career defined by exceptional longevity, versatility, and consistent excellence across multiple franchises. Emerging as a high school phenom at St. Vincent–St. Mary in Akron, he entered the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and quickly proved worthy of the hype. His rare combination of size, speed, intelligence, and playmaking ability allowed him to dominate from the start, earning Rookie of the Year honors with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over his first seven seasons, he transformed the struggling franchise into a perennial contender, winning two MVP awards and leading the Cavs to the 2007 NBA Finals.

In 2010, James made one of the most famous free-agency moves in sports history when he joined the Miami Heat, forming a star trio with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The decision generated enormous controversy, but his on-court success was undeniable. Across four seasons in Miami, he won two championships and two more MVP awards while refining his game and becoming a more dominant scorer, defender, and leader.

James returned to Cleveland in 2014, vowing to deliver a championship to his home region. In 2016, he fulfilled that promise by leading the Cavaliers to a historic NBA title, overcoming a 3–1 deficit in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors. His performance in that series is often cited as one of the greatest in league history.

In 2018, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he added a fourth championship in 2020.

LeBron has earned more than $580 million in NBA salary alone during his career. When his career earnings topped $501 million, he jumped over Kevin Durant to claim the record for highest career earnings in NBA history. On February 7, 2023, LeBron surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Beyond the court, James has built one of the most successful business empires in sports history. He has secured major endorsement partnerships throughout his career, most notably a lifetime deal with Nike reportedly worth more than a billion dollars, along with long-running relationships with Sprite, Beats by Dre, AT&T, Walmart, Upper Deck, and dozens of other brands. His business portfolio extends far beyond endorsements: James co-founded SpringHill Entertainment and The SpringHill Company, a media and production studio responsible for films, documentaries, and television projects, including "Hustle," "Space Jam: A New Legacy," "The Shop," and multiple socially conscious documentaries. He also launched Uninterrupted, an athlete-driven digital storytelling platform that has grown into a major media voice.

James has made high-profile investments as well, including stakes in Blaze Pizza, fitness brand Ladder, and Fenway Sports Group, giving him ownership positions in the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC. His strategic investments and partnerships have made him one of the wealthiest and most influential athlete-entrepreneurs of all time.

Was LeBron James Ever Actually A Billionaire?

In mid-2022, Forbes declared LeBron had "officially" become a billionaire. By our estimation, this declaration was not accurate at the time and became even less accurate within a few years. Forbes' 2022 valuation included $300 million in wealth attributed to LeBron's media company, SpringHill, which had just raised money at a $725 million valuation a few months prior. As it turned out, SpringHill never turned a profit, posted significant annual losses, had to perform major layoffs, and ultimately merged with a British production company called Fulwell 73 in a no-cash deal. The "$300 million" used by Forbes in its 2022 valuation almost certainly is worth a fraction of that amount today. Furthermore, several equity bets that formed part of Forbes' original math, such as his Beachbody/Ladder stake, essentially became valueless.

In its valuation, Forbes, without citation, claimed that LeBron had $500 million in other random liquid assets that for some reason went completely unnamed:

"It's expensive to live like LeBron, but even after accounting for managers, agents, lawyers, and a superstar's spending habits, Forbes still believes LeBron James has more than a half-billion dollars in net assets beyond what's listed above."

In mid-2022, we estimated LeBron James' net worth at $600 million. A far cry from billionaire status. In our opinion, LeBron James has never actually been a real billionaire. He will almost certainly become a billionaire at some point (assuming some major financial catastrophe like a divorce).

Annual Income

As of this writing, LeBron has earned slightly over $800 million from contracts and endorsements during his career (before taxes and expenses). 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.

Contracts, Salary & Career Earnings

Over the course of his NBA career, LeBron James has earned an estimated $580 million in salary alone. That makes him the highest-paid player in NBA history in terms of total on-court career earnings.

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. His one-year deal for the 2024–25 season added another premium salary to his total.

• Rookie Contract (2003–2007): Signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $18.8 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• First Extension (2007–2010): Agreed to a three-year, $60 million extension that carried him through his final pre-free agency seasons in Cleveland.
• Miami Heat Contract (2010–2014): Joined Miami via sign-and-trade on a six-year framework, earning roughly $110 million during his four seasons with the team.
• Return to Cleveland (2014–2018): Adopted a strategy of short-term, max-value contracts with player options, earning over $100 million across four seasons as the salary cap rose.
• Lakers Contract (2018–2022): Signed a four-year, $153.3 million deal to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Lakers Extensions: Added a two-year, $85 million extension in 2020, followed by a two-year, $97.1 million extension in 2022.
• Recent Deal: Accepted a one-year premium salary contract for the 2024–25 season.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Beats by Dr. Dre

Nike Deal & Other Endorsements

LeBron's most significant endorsement relationship has always been with Nike. 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. Nike built multiple lines of signature sneakers around him, and in 2015 the company locked him into a rare lifetime agreement reportedly worth more than $1 billion. It was the very first lifetime deal Nike had ever offered and reportedly the largest deal in the company's history. His shoes have consistently ranked among the best-selling lines in the league, generating billions in revenue for Nike and becoming a cornerstone of his global image.

Outside of Nike, LeBron has partnered with dozens of major global brands across food, technology, apparel, automotive, and lifestyle categories. Over the course of his career, he has signed campaigns with McDonald's, Microsoft, State Farm, Coca-Cola, Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins, Samsung, Audemars Piguet, Verizon, AT&T, and Walmart, among many others. His long-running partnership with Sprite became one of Coca-Cola's most visible athlete collaborations, and he later expanded into campaigns for Powerade and energy drink brands as his influence grew.

Beats by Dre Investment

James has also been highly strategic in choosing deals that include equity rather than flat fees. Most famously, he acquired a reported 1% stake in Beats by Dre during the company's early years. In addition to earning royalty payments totaling roughly $1 million during his run as a spokesperson, James earned $30 million when Apple purchased Beats for $3 billion in 2014. Contrary to rumor, LeBron did NOT make $700 million off his Beats investment.

SpringHill Entertainment

LeBron James and Maverick Carter co-founded SpringHill Entertainment as part of a broader effort to build a multifaceted media empire spanning film, television, digital content, and athlete-driven storytelling. The company produced a wide slate of projects, including "The Shop," "Hustle," "Space Jam: A New Legacy," and numerous documentaries centered on social issues and cultural commentary. The highly anticipated Space Jam sequel was a relative box office bust, earning around $160 million on a $150 million budget.

In 2021, SpringHill attracted significant outside investment that valued the company at roughly $725 million. The valuation ultimately proved difficult to sustain. By 2023, following several costly productions and annual losses reportedly totaling tens of millions of dollars, SpringHill underwent a round of layoffs as investors pushed for a path to profitability. In November 2024, the company agreed to merge with the British production outfit Fulwell 73 in an effort to consolidate resources, stabilize finances, and reposition itself within the increasingly competitive streaming and entertainment landscape.

Fenway Sports Group

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 has 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.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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.

Jason Miller/Getty Images

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 paid $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.

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