LeBron James: Los Angeles Lakers Star Officially Joins the Billionaire Club

• NBA superstar LeBron James has been declared a billionaire by Forbes in a move that makes him the first active basketball player to be a billionaire
• He joins fellow legend Michael Jordan who was declared a billionaire in 2014 due to his wide-ranging investments that includes a stake in the Charlotte Hornets
• James, 37, has stakes in a myriad of companies and entities that include Liverpool, Beats by Dre and the Blake Pizza eateries

LeBron James has officially become the first active NBA player to be declared a billionaire. James has led a glorious career spanning close to two decades, but most of his wealth comes from the multiple investments he has made.

He is a four-time NBA champion and has similarly been declared the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) a similar number of times.

Forbes has now placed James into the billionaire category. The Daily Mail reports that he becomes the second NBA player to join the exclusive list.

Get to know about the top 15 best point guards in the NBA in 2022

NBA

The first one was Michael Jordan, but his came 11 years after retirement. Jordan is a huge investor in the Charlotte Hornets.

James has a wide range of investments ranging from a production company, pizza franchises and three sports teams that include European giants Liverpool.

The 37-year-old was the sixth-highest paid NBA player in the 2021/2022 season, earning nearly 41 million dollars.

In an interview with GQ in 2014, James had expressed his desire to be a billionaire one day.

Obviously, I want to maximise my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, I am gonna be excited.

When it comes to all sports, James is beaten to the top spot by Paris Saint Germain’s forward Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi is the wealthiest athlete

Sports Brief previously reported that Lionel Messi had been recognized by financial magazine, Forbes as the highest-paid athlete in the world, defeating the likes of arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Lebron James to the accolade.

Ranking the top 15 best NBA centers in the world right now

NBA

The Argentine forward made a total of $130 million in the year under review to surpass the earnings of all other superstar athletes, with Ronaldo earning just $115m.