LeBron James is one of the wealthiest athletes on the planet. After having a career that has spanned nearly 2 decades, James has earned a lot of money during his playing career.
Given how long James has been playing at the highest level, it comes as no surprise that he is one of the best-paid players in the NBA. And last season, James crossed $1 billion in career earnings.
What is even crazier is the fact that James earns more from his off-the-court endorsement deals than he does from his NBA salary. This consistent source of income has also allowed James to take slightly smaller contracts in order to accommodate better teammates with high salaries.
Money is clearly not a problem for James. For starters, he has an unprecedented lifetime contract with Nike, one that guarantees him a lucrative sum for the rest of his time.
But LeBron also understands the value of himself as a player. His longevity in the NBA is thanks in large part to the money he spends in taking care of his body. James spends upwards of $1 million in keeping himself in the best shape possible.
James’ wealth is incredible. This is why it came as a surprise to many when Dwyane Wade called him the cheapest player in the NBA. In a 2017 interview, Wade and LeBron, who were both with the Cavs, spoke about a lot of things.
Rachel Nichols told LeBron that Wade called him the cheapest player in the league. James laughed and admitted it was true, noting that he doesn’t spend money on things that most people would.
“That is so, so falsely true. I’m not turning on data roaming, I’m not buying no apps, I still got Pandora with commercials. So I’ll be listening to some great music at home with commercials… I’m not paying for it.”
James has used his money carefully, not spending it for ridiculous reasons. Whether he is using that money to invest in his community through his charitable work or expanding his off-the-court revenue streams and businesses, James handles his money extremely well.
