LeBron James (Image Credit: Getty Images)
NBA stars lead lavish lifestyles thanks to their lucrative contracts, and their massive endorsement deals add a big chunk to their net worth. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who will be entering his 22nd NBA season, has reportedly become the richest athlete in lifetime endorsement deals. With his latest achievement, the NBA star has surpassed the top athletes worldwide.
According to ClutchPoints, LeBron James has become the highest-earning athlete in lifetime endorsement deals. NBA star Kevin Durant and former players Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson have also racked in a huge amount through these deals. Soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also included in the list.
Even before playing an NBA game, LeBron signed a whopping seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike in 2003. After 12 years, James extended his partnership with Nike and signed a lifetime contract reportedly valued at over $1 billion. The Lakers star made an estimated $90 million in 2022 solely from endorsements.
LeBron James (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Apart from LeBron, Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade has a lifetime deal with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has a philanthropic partnership with Nike, valued at around $250 million. NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson’s deal with Reebok in 1996 entitles him to $800,000 annually for the rest of his life.
What Is LeBron James’ Net Worth In 2024?
In 2022, LeBron James became the first active NBA player to enter the $1 billion club, earning around $480 million in pretax salary from his NBA teams. According to Forbes, LeBron is ranked 2494th globally and has a net worth of $1.2 billion.
In the 2023-24 season, the 39-year-old was the highest-earning athlete with his $47.6 million Lakers salary and $70 million from off-court activities. In addition to his Nike deal, the Lakers star’s endorsement lineup features PepsiCo, AT&T, Beats, Crypto.com, and GMC. With the 2024-25 season approaching, LeBron will shift his focus to playing alongside his son, Bronny James, in the NBA.
