Four-time NBA champion LeBron James is officially the first active player in league history to become a billionaire, according to Forbes.
James reached the elite status after he made $121.2 million from May 2021 to May 2022 through his NBA salary combined with off-court endorsements and brands, ESPN reported Thursday.
All the way back in 2014, James discussed the possibility of becoming a billionaire, telling GQ Magazine, “I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my god. I’m gonna be excited.”
Only Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi made more as an athlete than James over the past year, as Messi raked in $130 million, according to ESPN.
The 18-time all star has continued his dominance on the court despite turning 37 this past season. While his Los Angeles Lakers failed to reach the NBA playoffs with a star-studded roster, “The King” looked as good as usual when he was on the court, becoming the oldest player in history to average more than 30 points per game in a season.
A large part of James’ financial success over the past year came from his production company SpringHill, which produced the “Space Jam” sequel in which James starred. The film grossed more than $160 million worldwide, ESPN reported.
While becoming a billionaire, James has used his platform and status to criticize America for its “systemic racism.”
In May 2020, responding to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, James tweeted, “Why doesn’t America Love Us!!!!!????Too.”
Why Doesn’t America Love US!!!!!????TOO. 😭😭🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ #HeadHighandStayStrong🙏🏾💪🏾 #WeAllWeGot✊🏾👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 31, 2020
The NBA great also took to Twitter to voice his opposition to states like Kentucky and Georgia reportedly limiting the number of polling places during the 2020 elections. “This is systemic racism and oppression,” James wrote. “So angry man.”
James has been harshly criticized for being quick to blame America for racism while staying silent on communist China’s oppression, a country raking in billions of dollars for the NBA.
“James is an outspoken critic of the United States, often wading into hot cultural issues and claiming that black people continue to be victims of systemic oppression,” The Daily Wire wrote in November. “James has been significantly more muted on China’s abuses, however, going as far as to critique then-Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey in 2018 over comments critical of China.”
Former NBA forward Enes Kanter Freedom slammed James for his silence on China, claiming the NBA star cared more about money than justice.
“Money over Morals for the ‘King’ Crown. Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice,” Kanter tweeted. “They really do ‘shut up & dribble’ when Big Boss Flag of [China] says so. Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?”
Money over Morals for the “King” 👑
Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice
They really do “shut up & dribble” when Big Boss 🇨🇳 says so
Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research? pic.twitter.com/YUA8rGYeoZ
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 18, 2021