On the record-breaking night of February 8, James became the absolute protagonist of the audience. Photo/Visual China
On February 8, the NBA regular season Lakers and Thunder battle, with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter, James scored the 36th point of the game, crowned the NBA's all-time scoring champion (regular season). In addition to his achievements in the NBA, James' business value off the court has also attracted attention, and his income comes mainly from on-court (NBA salary) and off-court (sponsorship endorsements and investments). According to foreign media statistics, James' total income has exceeded $1.1 billion, of which the total salary of his career has exceeded $500 million and his off-market income has exceeded $600 million.
career
8 contracts over 20 years with a total salary of $532 million
Since entering the NBA in 2003, James has played for the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers in his nearly 20-year career, signing a total of 8 contracts. Last August, James signed an early contract extension with the Lakers for two years and $97.1 million, with the 2024-2025 season as a player option. According to foreign media reports, the renewal contract contains a 15% trading margin clause. After the extension, James' career salary reached $532 million, becoming the first player in NBA history to earn more than $500 million.
Last May, Forbes released the 2022 list of the world's highest-paid athletes, and James became the second-highest-paid athlete in the world with $121.2 million. Among them, the revenue on the field was $41.2 million, and the revenue outside the arena was $80 million. It also broke its record of $96.5 million in NBA player revenue set in 2021, becoming the 10th athlete in history to earn more than $100 million a year.
In September 2018, James attended the premiere of the film with his family. Photo/Visual China
Endorsement
Signed a number of well-known brands, with an annual income of 65 million US dollars
As one of the NBA's most influential athletes, James naturally receives attention from many brands. James' endorsement brands include Nike, AT&T, PepsiCo, Beats, GMC and other well-known brands, with endorsement revenue of $65 million per year alone.
Entering the NBA in early 2003, James signed his first sneaker contract with Nike for seven years and $90 million. After the first sneaker contract ended, Nike and James signed another five-year, $100 million contract. In order to retain James, Nike signed James to a guaranteed lifetime endorsement contract in 2015, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed. According to ESPN, this is the largest contract signed with a single athlete in Nike's 44-year history.
Another notable endorsement is James' partnership with Beats headphones. In 2008, the fledgling Beats headphones invited James to endorse him, promising a 1% stake in the company in return. In May 2014, Apple acquired Beats for $3 billion, and James earned $30 million in revenue from the acquisition.
On the court, the 38-year-old James is still "unabated". Photo/Visual China
investment
The territory involves many fields, and the scoring king becomes the "gold king"
Professional clubs are an important part of James' investment landscape. In 2011, James bought a 2% stake in Premier League Liverpool FC for $6.5 million, becoming a minority shareholder. In the list of the top 50 sports teams by market capitalization in 2022 published by Forbes, Liverpool has a market capitalization of $4.45 billion, ranking fourth, behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
In March 2021, James became one of the owners of the Boston Red Sox and joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner. Fenway owns MLB Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, Boston Bruins, NASCAR Racing Rush Fenway and a sports news website, New England Sports Network. Last September, James also participated in the acquisition of AC Milan, becoming a minority shareholder of the team.
In addition to professional clubs, James has invested in film and television entertainment, media, catering, beverages, real estate, fitness, sports technology and other fields. In June 2022, SpringHill Entertainment, an entertainment company founded by James, received a $100 million investment. The company is also the production company for the movie "Slam Dunk 2" and the blockbuster show "Sports Celebrity Show".
James invests in a wide range of businesses, but also generates a lot of income. In 2012, James bought a 10 percent stake in Flame Pizza for less than $1 million, and now Flame Pizza is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States, with more than 300 stores and its stake worth $30 million.
Beijing News reporter Wang Jisong
Edited by Wang Chunqiu
Proofreader Zhai Yongjun