LeBron James continues to achieve milestones in his career inside and outside the basketball court. Now the 37-year-old NBA superstar has officially become a billionaire, according to Forbes.
James, a four-time champion, is the first active NBA player to make the billionaires list. Forbes reported that LeBron James Net Worth 2022 is now at $1 billion.
According to Forbes, he surpassed the milestone after earning $121.2 million in 2021. Only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have made more money as basketball players.
In an interview with GQ in 2014, LeBron James had expressed his desire to become a "billion-dollar athlete."
"It's my biggest milestone, "Obviously. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I'm gonna be excited," he said back then.
Humble Beginnings
LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio, on December 30, 1984. LeBron's mother got him a little hoop and basketball when he was a baby, which he played with for hours.
Basketball quickly became LeBron's life, and when he was old enough to play for his primary school, he excelled right away. LeBron James attended St Vincent-St Mary High School, where as a sophomore, he was named to the USA Today All-USA first team for the first time.
He was voted the Gatorade National Player of the Year in his junior year. Around this time, he began to be referred to as "King James." James started to feature 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--and he became one of the greatest players in the history of the game, known for his versatility, athleticism, and playmaking skills.
What Made LeBron James a Billionaire?
According to Yahoo! Sports, James' top revenue producers from his many undertakings were identified by Forbes as the following:
- The Spring Hill Company is a $300 million joint venture between James' Robot Company marketing agency, Uninterrupted and SpringHill Entertainment.
- James owns 1% of Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, and Liverpool Football Club, for $90 million. Roush Fenway Racing, the New England Sports Network, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are also owned by the group.
- Blaze Pizza: $30 million: Before the firm grew to over 300 locations in the United States and Canada, James paid $1 million for a 10% interest in 2012. He also operated 18 franchise locations in Florida and Illinois on his own.
- Other investments: $500 million: Per Forbes, James has a half-billion dollars in other net assets, which include profitable ventures such as Beats by Dre, Ladder Sports Nutrition, Tonal, and Lyft.
Given his massive wealth, the Lakers superstar forward has purchased high-end properties. One of those is a 9,350-square-foot mansion in LA's Brentwood district, which he purchased in November 2015 at the price of $21 million. It was the highest price paid for a home in the neighborhood at the time. He tried for a year to sell this house but ended up accepting a small loss when he sold it for $19.6 million in September 2021, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
LeBron James Net Worth 2022 proves that he is a brilliant basketball player as well as a savvy businessman.
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