LeBron James shatters NBA rich list record with never-seen-before earnings
Even in a severe pandemic-induced global recession, LeBron James finds a way to get paid.
The 36-year-old has always broken through ceilings as a trailblazing money-earning machine — and perhaps his greatest earning achievement has just been revealed.
LeBron James’ insane record forecast earnings for 2021 headline Forbes’ crazy list of the top-earning basketballers for the next 12 months.
According to Forbes, he’s expected to earn a $USD95.4 million ($A125m), including around $64 million ($A84m) from endorsements and other off-court income.
That’s the highest-ever yearly income for an NBA player, or a player from any American team sport.
It’s the seventh straight year he has topped the list.
The scary part of Forbes’ predictions is that James would have broken through the $USD100 million-mark if not for the 20 per cent cut across the board on NBA player salaries as part of the league’s response to COVID-19 and a downturn in revenue.
LeBron James also added another NBA Championship to his list of achievements in 2020.Source:Getty Images
Only Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather have gone above the $100 million mark in a calendar year.
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James’ off-field business nous will see his career earnings soar above the $USD1 billion mark, where he will become just the fifth athlete in history to reach the staggering money milestone.
Only Woods, Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been to the peak of the mountain before him.
James is forecast to earn another fortune as a result of his Space Jam 2: A New Legacy film project where he will feature as the star of the movie, executive producer and majority owner of the production company behind the movie.
It’s just one of his clever business shifts in recent years which has included a switch from Coca-Cola to Pepsi as his official beverage partner. PepsiCo joins the long list of sponsors tying their brands with James, including AT&T, Beats, Nike, Walmart, Rimowa, GMC and Blaze Pizza.
James last year featured at No. 5 on the annual Forbes’ sporting rich list, sitting behind Roger Federer, Ronaldo, MEssi and football star Neymar.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry came in a distant second to James on the back of his ongoing involvement with emerging apparel brand Under Armour.
TOP 10 NBA EARNERS 2021
It’s LeBron James’ league, the rest are just playing in it.Source:Getty Images
1. LeBron James (LA Lakers): $95.4m / $A125m
2. Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors): $74.4m / $A97.3m
3. Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets): $65.2m / $A85.3m
4. Russell Westbrook (Washington Wizards): $58.1m / $A76n
5. James Harden (Brooklyn Nets): $50m / $A65.4m
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): $49m / $A64.2m
7. Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): $43.3m / $A45.7m
8. Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets): $43m / $A56.3
9. Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns): $40.1m / $A52.5m
10. Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers): $39m / $A51m.
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