Who is Richer — LeBron James Or Jordan?
While they may not have been the most popular or sexiest basketball players of all time, both LeBron James and Michael Jordan have raked in millions through their off-court business ventures.
While Jordan earned $93 million from his NBA contracts, he made the bulk of his money by raking in endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Gatorade. He also owns the Charlotte Hornets and his shoe line.
LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. That historical moment has sparked debates over who is the best player ever.
But while Jordan topped out at $93 million during his 16 seasons in the NBA, James’ on-court earnings have been more than twice as high. He has commanded $385 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers (with escrow deductions), plus a whopping $700 million in endorsements, merchandise, licensing, and media revenue.
His off-the-court earning power is even more impressive. He has built an entertainment company called SpringHill, formed with business partner Maverick Carter in 2020. The company has produced movies like Space Jam: A New Legacy and a docuseries on Naomi Osaka. It has also partnered with Blaze Pizza and GMC.
As well as winning a record-breaking six NBA championships, Jordan has made millions off the court over his career. During his playing career, he raked in US$90 million in salary and earned an additional US$1.8 billion (pre-tax) through endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, and Hanes.
As for the Nike deal, it is Jordan’s most significant source of income, earning him a whopping $130 million last year. He signed his first five-year deal with the shoe manufacturer in 1984, worth $500,000 annually (about $1.2 million today), plus royalties.
Besides his Nike deal, Jordan has investments in several companies, including Beats by Dre, Blaze Pizza, and the fast-growing sports nutrition company Beachbody. He also owns a house in Chicago, adorned with his jersey number, and a mansion near Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also helped with hurricane relief efforts in the Carolinas and Bahamas.
Jordan is a very savvy investor and knows how to invest his money well. He has invested in various successful businesses.
For example, he invested in a tech startup called Gigster. The company connects companies to freelance software developers and designers.
He also invested in an eSports company called Xiomatic. The firm is the parent company of an eSports team called Team Liquid, and it has been very successful.
The eSports industry is vast, and he has invested in it to get in on the action. He has made billions of dollars off of this investment!
Jordan has also invested in Sports radar, a sports data company. He and Mark Cuban were part of a $44 million funding round in 2015. They invested in the company for five years, which is now valued at $2.5 billion.
According to Forbes, LeBron James has become the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status. He joins golf’s Tiger Woods as the only athlete to achieve that milestone.
His net worth comes from off-court deals with Nike, a 5% royalty payout on Jordan Brand sales, and his TV and movie production company. He also owns a 2% stake in the English Premier League soccer team Liverpool Football Club, which he and his business partner Maverick Carter expanded in 2021.
He’s also an early investor in headphone company Beats by Dre, which was sold to Apple for $3 billion in 2014. He has equity stakes in Blaze Pizza and Lobos 1707 tequila. He also owns real estate properties in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
