How LeBron James became a billionaire: his wealth and earnings
29 june 2025 в 21:13
LeBron James is not only one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but also one of the wealthiest athletes in history. From record-breaking NBA salaries to huge endorsement deals and smart investments, LeBron has built a fortune that reflects both his dominance on the court and his business acumen off it.
In June 2025, the 40-year-old LeBron exercised his player option, valued at $ 52.6 million, to stay with the Lakers for the 2025−26 season, marking his eighth year in Los Angeles. With this news, many are wondering how much LeBron is worth now, how he earned his fortune, and what his salary is today.
Find out more below.
LeBron has not announced any retirement plans yet. However, according to ESPN, he was heard in a viral video posted in June 2025 at a dinner in New York, where he mentioned that his wife, Savannah James, would like him to retire next year.
While LeBron continues to weigh his options, he remains under contract with the Lakers for the 2025−26 season.
According to Forbes magazine, LeBron’s net worth by 2025 is estimated at $ 1.2 billion.
He officially became a billionaire in 2022, becoming the first active NBA player to reach this milestone. In an interview with GQ magazine in 2014, LeBron shared his excitement about the possibility of reaching this mark, saying, «And if I’m able to do it, if I become a billionaire athlete — oh, hooray! Oh, my God, I’ll be thrilled».
Throughout his NBA career, LeBron has earned over $ 450 million just in salary, including record-breaking annual salaries that reached over $ 47 million with the Lakers. He initially signed a rookie deal worth around $ 13 million for three years with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 before signing an extension for $ 60 million in 2006.
LeBron’s earnings significantly increased when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010 on a six-year, $ 110 million contract. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 on a series of short-term maximum contracts, allowing him to take advantage of rising salary caps and negotiate higher annual payouts. In 2018, he signed a four-year, $ 153 million contract with the Lakers, followed by a two-year extension for $ 97 million in 2022.
Off the court, LeBron’s endorsement deals with brands such as Nike — where just his lifetime contract is valued at over $ 1 billion, as well as with Beats by Dre, PepsiCo, and others, have been even more profitable than his NBA salaries.
LeBron has three children with his wife Savannah: Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. Bronny, born in 2004, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in 2024 and made history by joining his father on the court — participating in both the NBA and the Summer League, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Bryce, born in 2007, currently plays basketball in high school. Zhuri, born in 2014, is the youngest of the James children and has become known on social media through her YouTube channel, «All About Zhuri», - where she shares videos about cooking and lifestyle
In June 2025, the 40-year-old LeBron exercised his player option, valued at $ 52.6 million, to stay with the Lakers for the 2025−26 season, marking his eighth year in Los Angeles. With this news, many are wondering how much LeBron is worth now, how he earned his fortune, and what his salary is today.
Find out more below.
LeBron has not announced any retirement plans yet. However, according to ESPN, he was heard in a viral video posted in June 2025 at a dinner in New York, where he mentioned that his wife, Savannah James, would like him to retire next year.
While LeBron continues to weigh his options, he remains under contract with the Lakers for the 2025−26 season.
According to Forbes magazine, LeBron’s net worth by 2025 is estimated at $ 1.2 billion.
He officially became a billionaire in 2022, becoming the first active NBA player to reach this milestone. In an interview with GQ magazine in 2014, LeBron shared his excitement about the possibility of reaching this mark, saying, «And if I’m able to do it, if I become a billionaire athlete — oh, hooray! Oh, my God, I’ll be thrilled».
Throughout his NBA career, LeBron has earned over $ 450 million just in salary, including record-breaking annual salaries that reached over $ 47 million with the Lakers. He initially signed a rookie deal worth around $ 13 million for three years with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 before signing an extension for $ 60 million in 2006.
LeBron’s earnings significantly increased when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010 on a six-year, $ 110 million contract. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 on a series of short-term maximum contracts, allowing him to take advantage of rising salary caps and negotiate higher annual payouts. In 2018, he signed a four-year, $ 153 million contract with the Lakers, followed by a two-year extension for $ 97 million in 2022.
Off the court, LeBron’s endorsement deals with brands such as Nike — where just his lifetime contract is valued at over $ 1 billion, as well as with Beats by Dre, PepsiCo, and others, have been even more profitable than his NBA salaries.
LeBron has three children with his wife Savannah: Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. Bronny, born in 2004, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in 2024 and made history by joining his father on the court — participating in both the NBA and the Summer League, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Bryce, born in 2007, currently plays basketball in high school. Zhuri, born in 2014, is the youngest of the James children and has become known on social media through her YouTube channel, «All About Zhuri», - where she shares videos about cooking and lifestyle
© Artemenko Olga
