LeBron James, born on December 30, 1984, is a famous American basketball player. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, but he used to play for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
People call him “King James” because he’s considered one of the best basketball players ever, often compared to Michael Jordan. LeBron has been in 10 NBA Finals, winning four championships, and he even won the first NBA Cup in 2023 with the Lakers.
He’s also got two Olympic gold medals from playing on the U.S. men’s national team. In this article, we’ll explore LeBron James’ business side, looking at his investments, partnerships, and how his entrepreneurial efforts have made an impact.
What Are Lebron James’ Business Ventures?
SpringHill Entertainment
James also owns SpringHill Entertainment, which is his way into making movies. The name SpringHill is inspired by the housing James lived in during his childhood.
This company has made TV shows like “Survivor’s Remorse,” “The Wall,” and “The Shop,” as well as movies like “Hustle” and “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” where James was the star. Forbes estimates the value of SpringHill Entertainment to be around $300 million.
UNINTERRUPTED
When Laura Ingraham from Fox News criticized James for his political views, she told him to “shut up and dribble.” In response, James wanted to share athletes’ stories in their own words, so he started his own media company called UNINTERRUPTED.
It began with short videos on social media and has grown into podcasts and longer films. The company’s tagline, “More Than An Athlete,” reflects its goal of letting athletes show who they are on their terms.
Blaze Pizza
James entered the pizza business in 2012 with his business partners by making a modest investment in Blaze Pizza. They put about $1 million into the small pizza chain, and it has since become a huge success.
Nowadays, James occasionally tweets about Blaze Pizza, and his investment in the company keeps growing. There’s even a video of James working at a Blaze Pizza, where he goes by the name “Ron” and helps customers behind the counter.
Ladder
LeBron James and his trainer, Mike Mancias, started a company called Ladder. It’s not as well-known as some of James’ other ventures. Ladder is a sports nutrition company that focuses on making high-performance workout supplements.
Their products are certified for sport use and aim to enhance training and exercise. James teamed up with legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger for this venture.
Fenway Sports Group
James and his business buddy Maverick Carter made a big splash by becoming part-owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club. They made it happen by investing in Fenway Sports Group.
Now, they’re all set to make important decisions for these teams. James wants to own an NBA team, too, and he’s eyeing Las Vegas for that dream.
James owns a part of all these companies and plays a role in making decisions. He’s also said to have put money into other companies like Lyft and Tonal, which is a fitness startup.
Lebron James Deal With Nike
Even though James doesn’t own a part of Nike, he has a special long-term agreement with the company that’s valued at over a billion dollars. Maverick Carter practically confirmed this.
It’s the biggest deal Nike has ever made, and it’s said to give James over $30 million each year. James has now released 18 signature sneakers with Nike, including 14 versions of his playoff shoe called the “Soldier” and a few other releases.
If you want to find out how much LeBron James has earned in his life, you can check out the posts below:
Lebron James Endorsements with Major Companies
LeBron has deals with many companies, including McDonald’s, Microsoft, State Farm, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Samsung, and Nike. Besides just promoting Beats by Dre, he also owned 1% of it.
He got $1 million in royalties while working with them. When Apple bought the company for $3 billion, LeBron made $30 million. In 2011, he helped start the UNKNWN store in Miami.
Darren Rovell confirms the deal via tweet.
LeBron made about $30M off Beats by Dre Apple deal, reports @WindhorstESPN http://t.co/qQkJXtyaDx
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 12, 2014
Lebron James Real Estate Investment
The James family used to live in a big house with a view of Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. LeBron bought it for $9 million in November 2010, put it up for sale for $17 million in October 2014, and eventually sold it for $13.4 million in August 2015.
In November 2015, LeBron got a 9,350-square-foot mansion in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $21 million, setting a record for the area. He tried to sell it for about a year and ended up selling it in September 2021 for $19.6 million, taking a small loss.
Then, in November 2017, LeBron spent $23 million on a new mansion in Brentwood. By September 2020, LeBron had a $36.8 million mansion in Beverly Hills. In 2023, he decided to tear it down and build his dream home there.
Back in Ohio, LeBron owns one of the most expensive homes in Cleveland’s Bath Township. He had it custom-built, and Ohio tax authorities valued it at $9.5 million. LeBron bought it in 2003 when he was just 18, right after joining the NBA.
Is Lebron James a Billionaire?
Yes, LeBron James has officially become a billionaire. James has really excelled in his business, making over $1.2 billion before taxes. As the highest-paid active player in the NBA, he earned more than $385 million in salary while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Beyond basketball, he has also earned over $900 million from endorsements and other business ventures. Forbes confirms that,
“LeBron James Is Officially A Billionaire”
LeBron James Is Officially A Billionaire https://t.co/vKXxBzL9wf pic.twitter.com/5c6cdbYLN8
— Forbes (@Forbes) June 2, 2022
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