LeBron James sits at the very top of his game in the NBA. As the shining star of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron's skills on the court set the bar very high for others that joined the NBA after him. Established as being one of the greatest professional basketball players of all-time, his masterful skills with the ball have been compared to the likes of super legend Michael Jordan. LeBron James has proven to the world that he is truly a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the court. Aside from his wild success on the court, he has gone on to pursue a series of non-related business ventures that have proven to be equally lucrative and have significantly padded his bottom line. He lives lavishly, and he can most certainly afford to.
According to Entrepreneur, his business portfolio is as impressive as his athletic career, and the diverse nature of his investments has secured his wealth in a broad range of genres.
Endorsement Portfolio
LeBron James is said to have one of the most lucrative endorsement portfolios in the NBA. He has leveraged his success and it seems that most major brands want his name attached to theirs. Forbes reports that he has "the NBA's top endorsement portfolio, as well as his own production company SpringHill Entertainment and media company Uninterrupted.
LeBron James makes a pretty penny in the NBA, and lays claims to being named the NBA MVP four times. In 2018, he signed on with the Los Angeles Lakers for a $153 million contract that locked him in for four consecutive years. Clearly, he doesn't need to endorse any other brands, but the added value of those endorsements launches his net worth quite significantly.
By endorsing products such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, 2K Sports, and Beats By Dre, he is able to tack on an additional $53 million to his annual income, and according to Forbes, LeBron also received a huge financial boost by signing a $1 billion 'lifetime deal' with Nike.
Pizza Franchise
If you've ever eaten at Blaze Pizza, you've unknowingly been putting money in the pocket of LeBron James. This NBA giant is one of a handful of partners that have banded together to invest in 19 franchises of this Pizza company.
Aside from being a major contributor to Blaze Pizza behind the scenes, Clutchpoints states that he; "is also an investor and paid endorser for the company."
Having his hands the world of pizza may not seem like the most lucrative investment opportunity at first glance, but ESPN reports the monetary value of this deal as being quite significant. It's reported that LeBron invested less than $1 million in the Blaze Pizza Enterprise, and is now seeing a huge return on his investment, with the estimated value of his shares as being roughly $25 million.
Health And Wellness Company
Being a pro athlete means LeBron James has to put a great deal of focus on what he puts into his body. In order to be at the top of his game on the court, he has to make wise choices about health and nutrition when off the court. His lifestyle choices undoubtedly play a huge role in his overall performance. The trusted fact that he needs to remain in tip top shape is all that most people need to know, and they readily invest in this next business venture that he has on the go...
In 2018, LeBron James aligned himself with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cindy Crawford, and Lindsey Vonn, and they worked together to launch a company called Ladder. This health and wellness company offers consumers clean supplement choices to better their health and ensure they are able to achieve the most optimal energy and performance.
Giving Back
While much of LeBron James' business ventures off-court involve profitable opportunities, he also puts a lot of time, money, and energy into bettering the lives of those less fortunate. Giving back to his local community, and to people with greater needs than his own, is something that LeBron James takes a lot of pride in. He stays humble and grounded by remembering to invest in the lives of others, and continues to make a difference to families that need it most.
He launched the The LeBron James Family Foundation seeks to provide educational opportunities to fellow citizens in LeBron's home town. The good people of Akron, Ohio, have seen their pride and joy return home time and time again, and us his wealth, power, and influence to better the lives of the community where he grew his roots. Putting education on the forefront, this foundation provides learning resources, supports, and opportunities to Akron youth, and works towards encouraging kids to seek higher education. His commitment to making a change in his community is a serious one. Clutchpoints reports that the foundation "opened its first elementary school in 2018 and plans to spend $41 million to send kids to college."
Sources: Clutchpoints, Entrepreneur, Forbes, ESPN