LeBron James net worth – How rich is basketball’s richest player in 2022?

The world’s elite sports stars have immense earning power. They command huge salaries and rake in astronomical sums of money from endorsements from top-tier companies. Players in the NBA in the United States are among the best-paid players globally. LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players to have ever stepped onto a court and is one of the biggest earners as a result. But how much is LeBron James worth in 2022?

LeBron James’ personal fortune is estimated to be in the region of $850 million, making him one of the wealthiest sports stars anywhere on the planet. James has earned more than $1 billion since he first played professional basketball in 2003, but his love of the finer things in life has put a dent in his valuation. James currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, who pay him $41.18 million annually. That is just his salary and does not include a raft of lucrative endorsement deals and his many investments.

LeBron James Early Life

James was born December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He began playing basketball in fifth grade and played high school basketball for St. Vincent-St. Mary varsity team. James’ talents were obvious even back then, and everyone who watched him in action knew he was destined for superstardom. James never played college basketball, which is the traditional route into the NBA. However, his superb record for his high school garnered interest from the NBA’s top teams. Those enjoying the best online sports betting California has to offer began betting that James would be the number one overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

James’ Glistening Basketball Career

Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Basketball fans’ predictions of James being the number one overall pick came true when the Cleveland Cavaliers, James’ hometown team, selected him as the first overall pick in 2003. The Cavaliers tied James to a four-year rookie contract worth a shade under $18.8 million. James scored 25 points in his first NBA game against the Sacramento Kings, setting the record for the most points scored by a prep-to-pro player on his debut. He received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the first Cavalier in history to achieve the feat.

The period of 2004-2008 saw James rise to superstar status. He led the East to victory in the 2006 All-Star Game and was the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. James won the NBA MVP award in 2009, 2010, 2012, and again in 2013, tying him with Wilt Chamberlain on four MVP awards. Only Michael Jordan (5), Bill Russell (5), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) have more MVP awards than James.

James moved to the Miami Heat in July 2010, where he stayed until 2014. The heat paid James more than $150 million during this time. He returned to the Cavaliers between 2014-2018, earning almost $300 million, before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2018, where he still plays today. His most recent contract was for two years and guarantees him $85,655,532. Lakers awarded James this contract despite him being 37-years-old.

James’ Endorsements and Investments

James has earned mega-money from a plethora of endorsement deals since he started his NBA career. The likes of Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre, McDonals, and Nike have all tied James to a deal at some point. Nike paid James $90 million to choose them over rivals Reebok and Adidas.

He invested in Fenway Sports Group, which means he has a minority stake in English Premier League team Liverpool, MLB’s Boston Red Sox, and NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Both James and his business partner, Maverick Carter, launched the SpringHill Entertainment production company in addition to investing in the Blaze Pizza chain. 

More recently, in November 2020, James became an angel investor in Lobos 1707, a tequila and mezcal company.