LeBron James Is Officially A Billionaire, According To Forbes: The King Becomes The First NBA Player To Reach Billionaire Status Before Retiring
LeBron James didn't enjoy the most amazing season on the court considering that his team missed the playoffs. There is, however, plenty to look forward to for the King in the offseason, especially with his businesses off the court seemingly thriving. James has a lot of ventures, his ownership stake in Liverpool FC, whom he supports vocally is one, while his Lobos tequila and its competition with Michael Jordan's tequila is an interesting side note.
Bron was the highest-earning athlete in the world of sports last year, the estimate is that he made over $121M overall. His estimated intake of $127M in 2022 puts him above the likes of global soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, an impressive achievement.
And now, as per Forbes, LeBron has achieved a milestone that no one has before him, the King's net worth has reportedly crossed $1 billion, making him the only player to become a billionaire while still active. Michael Jordan is also a billionaire but MJ was only able to hit that benchmark a while after he retired:
"James has done just that–maximized his business, to the tune of more than $1.2 billion in pretax earnings. He has commanded more than $385 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA’s highest-paid active player. Off the court, he has raked in upwards of $900 million in income from endorsements and other business ventures," wrote Chase Peterson-Withorn of Forbes.
James has long suggested that his goal is to be an owner in the NBA, which would be an unbelievable achievement for someone that had to struggle growing up. Whatever people may think of the King on the court, it's clear that he has leveraged his talent into becoming one of the wealthiest people in the world. It remains to be seen what is next for LeBron, although his immediate focus will likely still be on basketball next season.