How has Lebron James made $1 billion?

Lebron James is making NBA history. Is he a greater player than Michael Jordan? And how can you measure such a thing anyway?

If the competition between King James and Air Jordan wasn't enough on the court, it is set to spill over off the court with the accumulated heritage of both NBA legends.

Michael Jordan is the retired player with the highest net worth thanks to his legendary partnership with Nike and the Jordan Brand. However, Lebron James is poised to surpass him in the coming years.

At the moment, Air Jordan has an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, Lebron James has already surpassed the $1 billion mark... and he's still active!

In fact, King James has become the first active player in NBA history to become a billionaire.

For perspective, Michael Jordan did not reach the $1 billion mark until 2014, a decade after retiring.

Forbes magazine has confirmed Lebron James' net worth figures, recalling the Akron native's prediction to 'GQ' in 2014.

"Obviously, I want to maximize my business. And if I make it, if I'm a $1 billion athlete, I'll be thrilled," he said. Eight years later, we imagine he is thrilled.

The question is, how did Lebron James manage to surpass $1 billion in net worth? Clearly, he did so with a good nose for business, some advice, and a good head on his shoulders.

At the age of 18, he used his brain and signed with Nike instead of Adidas or Reebok, thinking of the benefits that the American firm would bring him in the long term.

Time eventually proved him right, and by the end of 2015, Lebron James would sign a lifetime deal with Nike. He gets tens of millions per year from it.

Obviously, Nike is not the only brand with which King James has highly lucrative deals. AT&T, PepsiCo, and Walmart also contribute to him being one of the highest-paid sportsmen in the world, with incomes that are close to, and have even exceeded, 100 million dollars a year.

Beyond revenue, Lebron James has made several investments. Companies have grown, to some extent thanks to his presence. Which, in turn, contributed to the billion-dollar fortune of the player.

Forbes lists Lebron James as the largest individual shareholder in this audiovisual content production company, Spring Hill, and estimates his stake at $300 million. The company was the producer of 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' (2021).

His stake in the sports group that runs Liverpool F.C. and the Boston Red Sox is 1%. So if it's worth an estimated $900 million, that leads to him having $9 million.

The company that controls his three most valuable properties - a mansion in Akron, another mansion in Los Angeles, and the third one in Beverly Hills - is worth 80 million dollars.

In 2012, James bought a 10% stake in the Blaze pizza chain for $1 million. It now has an estimated worth of $30 million, according to Forbes. The chain has more than 300 locations across the United States.

Photo: Instagram - @kingjames

Beyond his most visible businesses, Lebron James is a money-making machine, and Forbes puts his worth from other investments at around $500 million.

One of the most talked-about was his involvement in the 2014 sale of Beats by Dre (pictured) to Apple for $3 billion. Lebron James was a shareholder and spokesperson.

He also has stakes in 'Beachbody', the well-known fitness company that bought 'Ladder', the sports nutrition company of Lebron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured).

It is clear that the fight to be the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) between Michael Jordan and Lebron James is going to go on for years. Not only in terms of talent but also with regard to business.