LeBron James has mastered the art of deflection, whether dodging defenders on the basketball court or sidestepping questions about his extraordinary wealth.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar recently demonstrated his trademark humor when confronted with reports of his billionaire status, playfully dismissing the figures while reminding everyone not to believe everything they read on Google.
LeBron’s Net Worth
His lighthearted response came during an appearance on Complex’s “360 With Speedy,” where host Speedy Morman brought up the widely circulated $1.2 billion net worth estimate.
The host bluntly said, “You’ve been getting money for a long time.” He then shared he searched Google to get what his net worth was.
“Now y’all want me to start lying?” James responded with characteristic wit. “Google search is a lie… It’s wrong. It’s less. It’s way less… It’s a couple thousand in my bank. I got a couple thousand. That’s it.”
Forbes has consistently tracked James among the world’s wealthiest athletes, officially recognizing his billionaire status in 2022 as the first active NBA player to reach that milestone. The publication’s annual calculations factor in his career earnings, business ventures, and investment portfolio to arrive at their current assessment of just how much money he has.
However, James immediately challenged the accuracy of such reporting when Morman mentioned the figure during their conversation.
The self-proclaimed “King James” was obviously joking, but his comments highlighted the often-speculative nature of how much athletes have in their bank accounts and his preference for maintaining privacy around his actual finances.
Instead, he plays modestly, like his early beginnings when he used to sleep on Frank Walker’s couch as a child in Akron.
Now, he is commanding nine-figure business deals, representing one of sports’ most remarkable wealth-building stories.
His financial empire extends far beyond the $500 million he has earned through NBA contracts with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Lakers, according to Sportico.
Bloomberg Línea reports that his entertainment and production venture, The SpringHill Company, carries a valuation exceeding $725 million despite recent operational challenges.
His lifetime partnership with Nike, according to Business Insider, stands as one of only three such agreements in professional sports history, estimated to generate over $1 billion throughout its duration.
Furthermore, his strategic early investments in Blaze Pizza, his stake in Beats by Dre before Apple’s acquisition, and minority ownership in Fenway Sports Group demonstrate his ability to identify lucrative opportunities across diverse industries.
Forbes also notes that recent ventures showcase his expanding business acumen, including partnerships with Lobos 1707 tequila and a groundbreaking collaboration with Mattel to create the first Ken doll modeled after a professional athlete. His portfolio also encompasses endorsement deals with major brands and appearances that continue generating substantial income streams.
The timing of James’s humorous deflection coincides with his exclusion from the prestigious Forbes 400 list, which set its entry threshold at a record $3.8 billion this year. Even with an estimated $1.2 billion fortune, James joined a record 500 American billionaires who failed to qualify for the exclusive ranking. The steep rise in the minimum reflects the meteoric ascent of technology titans and private equity leaders reshaping America’s wealth landscape.
Still, James continues earning recognition as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, ranking sixth globally with $133.8 million in annual income.
