LeBron James Net Worth (Money & Salary) 2024 (2024)

Insight into LeBron James’ Net Worth and Salary

With a net worth of $800 million, LeBron James, the American professional basketball player and entrepreneur, emerged as a pivotal figure in high school basketball. For the 2003 NBA draft, he became the #1 pick by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. From 2003 to 2010, he played for the Cavs, thereafter moving to the Miami Heat until 2014, leading them to two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Returning to the Cavs from 2014 to 2018 resulted in a championship in 2016. His transition to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 culminated in another championship win in 2020.

At present, LeBron James ranks as the third-highest-paid NBA player based on salary alone, standing at an annual base salary of $52 million. On February 7, 2023, he made history by surpassing Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Dubbed one of the most influential and affluent celebrities globally, LeBron garners more than $60-90 million annually from endorsem*nts and holds a $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike. Diversifying into several startups, LeBron boasts investments in entities like Liverpool F.C., Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, RFK Racing, A.C. Milan, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. His trajectory suggests that by 2030, LeBron James will achieve billionaire status.

Yearly Earnings

LeBron James annually garners roughly $45 million from NBA salary and around $55 million from endorsem*nts, culminating in a total of over $100 million. Between June 2016 and 2017, his earnings amounted to $86 million, reduced to $85.5 million between June 2017 and June 2018. Subsequent years saw LeBron’s income surpass $85 million annually, peaking at $121.2 million from June 2021 to June 2022. For 2022-2023, his combined on-court salary and endorsem*nts reached $119.5 million.

Salary & Career Accumulation

As of now, LeBron has amassed slightly over $800 million from contracts and endorsem*nts in his career (pre-tax and expenditures).

During his initial ten NBA seasons, LeBron James earned over $126 million in salary and an estimated $326 million from endorsem*nts, totaling $452 million. He signed a two-year, $85 million extension with the Lakers.

By August 2022, he had secured a two-year $99.02 million agreement with the Lakers, projecting total NBA salary earnings to exceed $530.8 million by 2025. In July 2024, a further two-year, $102 million deal with the Lakers was inked, poised to elevate LeBron’s NBA salary earnings to $583 million by the end of the 2026 season.

Endorsem*nt Engagements

Partnering with numerous brands like McDonald’s, Microsoft, State Farm, and Nike, LeBron enjoys lucrative endorsem*nt deals. Besides endorsing Beats by Dre, he also owned a 1% stake in the company, earning $1 million in royalties. The acquisition deal of Beats by Dre by Apple resulted in LeBron receiving $30 million. In 2011, he co-founded the Miami-based designer store UNKNWN.

Nike Arrangement

At 18 years old, LeBron penned his inaugural Nike deal, fetching $90 million over seven years, equivalent to $12.8 million annually. Although Reebok offered $115 million, LeBron remained loyal to Nike.

Currently, he pockets $20 million annually from Nike through salary and royalties for his signature shoe line. In December 2015, LeBron secured a lifetime endorsem*nt deal with Nike, potentially exceeding $1 billion, a groundbreaking deal in Nike’s history.

Contractual Commitments

Bypassing college, LeBron ventured straight into the pros as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ initial pick in the 2003 NBA draft. His debut contract covered $18.8 million over four years. Subsequently, he signed a $60 million extension for three years with the Cavs, elevating his annual paycheck from $5.8 million to $15.8 million for the 2009-2010 season. Post the infamous 2011 “The Decision” show, LeBron transferred to Miami with a modest $110 million across six years. This tactical move, coupled with team dynamics, led to a successful NBA Championship win.

Upon rejoining Cleveland post his Miami stint, LeBron opted for 1-year contracts to leverage the rising NBA salary cap. Notably, his 2016 NBA championship victory preceded a three-year, $100 million contract with the Cavs. This deal escalated, reaching $33.285 million in the final contract year, securing LeBron as the league’s highest earner.

Concluding his tenure with the Cavs, a two-year, $102 million contract was solidified in July 2024. By the end of the 2026 season, LeBron’s NBA salary earnings alone will surpass $583 million.