Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James continues his golden run and achieves the accolade of becoming the first active NBA player to become a billionaire. According to Forbes's report published on Thursday, the NBA star currently stands at $1bn. Before James, Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan also reached a billionaire status but that happened eleven years after he retired from competitive basketball. According to Forbes James earned $121.2 million last year and was just behind Paris Saint German superstar Lionel Messi who earned a total of $130m.
Recalling one of James's previous interviews with GQ way back in 2014, he had quoted "If it happens. It’s my biggest milestone. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited". Lebron James earned a whopping salary of $400m in his stint with the Lakers and has off-courts earnings close to $900m which includes investments and endorsements. According to Forbes, LeBron is a huge part of an entertainment group Springhill which sold stakes for $725m. James also owns stakes in Fenway Sports Group (the owners of Liverpool FC) and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Taking his wealth even further, James had bought 10% stake in Blaze Pizza for less than $1m in 2012 whose worth currently is $30m. Adding to all of it, LeBron's real estate worth is around $80m. He owns a $10m property in his hometown of Akron, Ohio with two homes in Los Angeles worth $60m.
James who is a four-time NBA champion with four MVP titles to his name has also won Olympic gold medals. He was raised by a single mother in Akron and now plans to start housing and a community center to assist families and children in need.
