LeBron James is poking fun at the internet’s obsession with his net worth. Speaking recently, the Lakers star joked that despite what Google says about his billions, he’s “broke” and letting his kids enjoy the money now through NIL deals.
“Google search is a lie,” said James on ‘360 With Speedy.’ “It’s way less. I got a couple of thousand in my bank and my room key. I am free, for me. Everything I got on is free, everything. I ain’t got no money, man. My kids got all the money now with NILs and sh*t. I’m broke.”
As a four-time champion, four-time MVP, and 21x All-Star, LeBron James has earned every penny of his career earnings, which total to over $581 million in the NBA alone. Today, he stands as the highest-paid player in NBA history with potentially several more years to play.
If you search for LeBron’s net worth right now, it will tell you that it’s somewhere around $1.5 billion or more. Not only does that make him one of the richest athletes in the world, it makes him one of the world’s few billionaires. That kind of money is certainly more than a “few thousand,” but that doesn’t mean it’s all available for James to spend.
Between paying off any debts, covering his homes and vehicles, and taking care of his personal staff, LeBron likely spends almost as much as he earns, and it’s likely even worse for other players who don’t have as much financial discipline.
There’s also the fact that Google’s net worth projection accounts for James’ entire portfolio, which includes his businesses, endorsement contracts, and other assets/investments. All of that money isn’t on hand, and LeBron says it doesn’t give him the kind of lifestyle one might think.
Instead of going crazy with expensive and luxurious purchases, LeBron takes care of his money by spending in moderation. He avoids buying his own clothes, and the outfit he wore on the podcast was apparently completely free.
Of course, LeBron has enough to live comfortably, and he’s got a steady stream of income that will keep him living in luxury for decades to come. At this point, however, most of his wealth comes in the form of equity, and he’s careful not to spend too much at one time.
While his definition of “broke” may not match up to the fan’s definition, LeBron has been frugal throughout his career. He notoriously refused to pay for Twitter Blue and would stay off his cell phone data when traveling to Toronto. During the Cavaliers‘ title in 2016, he even refused to pay for ad-free music.
So, regardless of LeBron’s true net worth, he’s going to demonstrate wisdom and restraint with his purchases. By getting and wearing free clothes, LeBron goes above and beyond to ensure he doesn’t fall behind financially or overspend on something that he doesn’t need. It’s the same way that he practices discipline and caution on the basketball court.
At the end of the day, LeBron isn’t really broke, but his comments highlight how different net worth looks from the inside compared to the outside. While fans see the billion-dollar headlines, James himself just sees the daily grind, his family, and the value of keeping things simple. That mindset is part of what has kept him at the top for 23 years, both on and off the court.
