Talking about his life, LeBron James would say it’s not much different, still going around. Only thing, now for him is not in temporary houses but in luxury villas.
“If I happened to, well, just by chance, become a billion-dollar athlete, Oh, my God, I would be so excited,” said LeBron James, who is said to be a brilliant basketball player, best of all time, say 8 years ago.
He knows that becoming a billionaire sports star is not easy. Even the fortune of basketball legend Michael Jordan could not reach 10 figures when he was still playing. He had to wait more than a decade after retiring, thanks to his investment in the Charlotte Hornets basketball team, to become a billionaire.
But LeBron didn’t have to wait that long. In June 2022, he officially became a billionaire. It’s thanks in part to its massive earnings for the 2021-22 financial year, which amounted to $121.2 million before taxes. In total, the NBA’s contemporary legend’s fortune is about $1.2 billion. Of that, only $385 million came from salaries, the remaining $900 million came from commercial contracts and business operations.
To understand why LeBron earns so much, take a look at his track record. In two decades, he has won the NBA 4 times, was the NBA’s best player 4 times, the NBA Finals 4 best, the All-Star 3 best, 16 times in the NBA All-Star and 2 Olympic gold medals. LeBron’s talent and persistence amazed everyone. However, he was not born a star.
LeBron was born in 1984 in Akron, Ohio, when his mother, Gloria Marie James, was 16 years old. Since his father had multiple convictions and was in prison, it’s easy to imagine how hard it was for his mother to raise her teenage son.
For a long time, because of precarious work, Gloria constantly moved, from one shabby apartment to another in Akron. Although traveling, but life does not change, young LeBron grew up in poverty and street viσlence.
What helps LeBron resist temptation, not fall into the path of crime is basketball. He often goes to Elizabeth Park to play, but is often excluded because of his small physique. In frustration, LeBron trained himself to master both hands, eventually dominating the court in Elizabeth Park.
As basketball grew into a passion, LeBron just wanted to be on the field all day. He missed classes so much that he wanted to drop out when he was only in 4th grade. Incredibly, LeBron’s mother sent him to the house of Frankie Walker, the school’s basketball teacher. This can be considered a turning point in LeBron’s life. Not only was he well fed, but he was also properly trained.
LeBron is very athletic, playing superb basketball and rugby as well. At the white-only Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School, LeBron found recognition as a co-star on both basketball and football teams, his fame even reaching beyond Ohio.
Until one day, LeBron’s football team failed in the state finals, he decided to stop, completely devoted to basketball. To be honest, this is the sport where LeBron shows strength that surpasses his peers. On average per game he scored 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals. He was so brilliant that the legendary Michael Jordan also noticed, inviting him to attend a private training session.
In 2002, LeBron tried to join the NBA, but failed to qualify because he hadn’t graduated from High School. No problem, he proves to all that his talent has surpassed his age. In his senior year, LeBron’s average per game was 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals. He was honored as Mr. Ohio’s basketball for 3 consecutive years, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, creating a rivalry between Nike and Adidas. ESPN must also broadcast live high school basketball. All of his games were sold out because everyone wanted to see the talent of the best high school basketball player in history.
LeBron has shown bravery from a very young age. He entered the NBA Draft shortly after graduating from high school and played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, receiving the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, then becoming the youngest person selected to the All-NBA Team.
In the following years, although Cleveland was not a strong team, LeBron still showed unparalleled talent. He led the team to its first playoff game since 1998 during the 2004/05 season, averaging over 25 points per game for the next two seasons and leading Cleveland to the 2007 NBA Finals. In the 2008/09 season, LeBron helped Cleveland hit a franchise record of 66-16, while also winning the NBA’s Player of the Year award with an impressive track record, averaging 28.4 points, 7.6 assists per game, continuing to take the team to the top. the Eastern Conference. This number in turn increased to 29.7 points, 8.6 assists in the 2009/10 season to continue to win the NBA MVP next season.
Then LeBron became the champion for 2 years in a row with the Miami Heat, won a third time when he returned to Cleveland, and had a 4th time enjoying glory with the LA Lakers. With that comes the season-by-season excellence, prompting all to call LeBron King James. He made greatness a habit.
Now, LeBron’s reputation extends far beyond basketball in particular and sports in general. He is also very acumen in business. As of 2015, LeBron abandoned a four-year, $15 million contract with McDonald’s to invest in the fast-growing Blaze Pizza chain. He also owns stakes in smart gym maker Tonal and ride-sharing giant Lyft.
Now LeBron is still wandering around, but not in the former makeshift houses, but moving back and forth between lavish villas. He has a $52 million mansion in Los Angeles. It has eight bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, with oak floors and marble tiles. LeBron also owns a 2.5-acre Mediterranean-style estate in Beverly Hills that was purchased for $36.75 million. As someone who hasn’t forgotten his roots, he naturally has a monumental 30,000-square-foot estate in his hometown of Ohio. The property has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a recording studio, an aquarium, and his own barbershop.
But LeBron also contributes a lot of money, time, and effort to community activities. He supports charities that fight poverty, creates a school where children can enjoy an advanced education in a safe environment, and provides university scholarships for high school students. Promise.
LeBron always knew where he was born and what he went through before he tasted glory. He didn’t want the children to repeat the life he had lived through, with hunger, viσle𝚗ce, and lack of learning opportunities. Having changed his life, now it’s time for LeBron to change the world.