LeBron James' wealth hits $1.5 billion following $104-million Lakers deal

Omokolade Ajayi -

Key Point

  • LeBron James’ net worth surged by $500 million in 2024, reaching $1.5 billion, making him the only active NBA billionaire.
  • James signed a two-year, $104-million contract with the Lakers, including a no-trade clause, boosting career earnings to over $530 million by 2025.
  • LeBron James earned $128.2 million in the 2023/2024 season, including $48.2 million on-court and $80 million off-court, becoming the top-earning Black athlete.

LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has seen his net worth surge by $500 million this year, reaching an impressive $1.5 billion. This financial milestone cements his position as one of the world’s richest Black billionaires and the only active billionaire in the NBA.

According to Bloomberg, James is the third American athlete to achieve billionaire status. His net worth in 2024 has increased from $1 billion at the beginning of the year to $1.5 billion at the time of drafting this report. This boost follows a significant deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Record-breaking contract

James and the Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $104-million deal that includes a no-trade clause, as reported by the NBA. This contract, the maximum the Lakers could offer, will keep James with the team until he is 41 if he plays out the full term. With this new deal, James’ career on-court earnings are projected to surpass $530 million in 2025, making him the first NBA player to exceed $500 million in career earnings.

The new contract also allows James to achieve a long-held dream of playing alongside his son, Bronny James Jr. The younger James, 19, was recently drafted by the Lakers and has agreed to a four-year, $7.9-million contract. LeBron James, entering his 22nd NBA season, continues to perform at a high level, averaging 25.7 points per game last year.

Top-earning Black athlete

Despite nearing the twilight of his NBA career, James remains a prominent figure in sports and business. In 2024, he claimed the top spot among Black athletes, earning $128.2 million over the past year. According to Forbes, his earnings include $48.2 million from on-court activities and $80 million from off-court ventures, such as sponsorships and investments.

Looking beyond his NBA career, James signed a deal with DraftKings in January and invested in the PGA Tour. In 2022, he sold a minority stake in SpringHill, valuing the company at $725 million, and boosting his net worth to $850 million at the time.

James has strategically invested a portion of his proceeds into Tonal, a home gym company, and StatusPRO, a sports tech startup specializing in virtual reality training products. Additionally, he became a co-owner of A.C. Milan, an Italian football club.