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LeBron James, whose illustrious 19-year NBA career has earned him widespread acclaim and recognition as one of the greatest basketball players in history, made history again in 2023 by becoming the first active NBA player to hit a net worth surpassing $1 billion. This extraordinary accomplishment by the Black American professional basketball player, celebrated for his remarkable versatility on the court, has endeared him to fans worldwide due to his humility and genuine character.
Here are the five companies partly owned by the accomplished businessman and athlete:
- Fenway Sports Group: James and his trusted associate, Maverick Carter, made waves when they acquired ownership stakes in the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club. This significant achievement was made possible through their investment in Fenway Sports Group, solidifying their status as co-owners alongside this esteemed organization.
- SpringHill Company: LeBron’s foray into the film industry is channeled through SpringHill Entertainment, a company whose name was inspired by a Section 8 housing development where James once lived during his childhood. SpringHill Entertainment has produced TV shows such as “Survivor’s Remorse,” “The Wall,” and “The Shop,” along with movies like “Hustle” and “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” in which James himself starred. Forbes estimates the value of SpringHill Entertainment to be approximately $300 million.
- Blaze Pizza: In 2012, James and his partners ventured into the pizza industry with an initial modest investment in Blaze Pizza. They purchased a small pizza establishment for around a million dollars and transformed it into a thriving enterprise. LeBron’s involvement in Blaze Pizza has continued to grow, with the basketball icon even seen helping customers behind the counter at Blaze’s Pizza, assuming the persona of “Ron.”
- UNINTERRUPTED: UNINTERRUPTED, a highly profitable venture for James, originated in response to a disparaging remark by Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who told James to “Shut up and dribble.” In response, James launched his own media outlet to control the narrative surrounding his interests. UNINTERRUPTED provides a platform for athletes to share their stories and has evolved from short videos on social media to podcasts and hour-long feature films under the slogan “More Than An Athlete.”
- Ladder Supplements: Ladder, possibly less recognized among James’ properties, is a collaboration between him and his trainer, Mike Mancias. As described on its website, Ladder is a “sports nutrition company dedicated to creating high-performance, NSF Certified for Sport® workout supplements for daily use.” It formulates products to complement a strong nutritional foundation and unlock the next level in training and exercise. LeBron’s partner in this endeavor is the renowned actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
