For the ninth year running, LeBron James has topped the NBA’s list of highest earners, having amassed a total of $117.6 million in 2023 from both his on-court and off-court activities. This success means that he has been the richest basketball player since 2014, when Kobe Bryant briefly overtook him in this regard. Forbes’ yearly rundown of the most well-paid NBA players shows that LeBron collected $47.6 million from his on-court endeavours this year, taking his career total to $432 million, which is the highest of any player ever. Spotrac estimates that by exercising his contract option for next season and seeing out his current deal with the Lakers until 2025, James will break the $530 million barrier. Off the court, he remains a major shareholder in the SpringHill Company, a TV and film production firm that generates millions, and continues to participate in marketing campaigns for brands such as Taco Bell.
In 2023, LeBron James, the famed LA Lakers basketball player, has once again secured his spot at the top of the NBA’s wealthy elite list for the ninth consecutive year.
LeBron James holds the title of the wealthiest basketball player, surpassing Kobe Bryant in 2014. His on-court earnings this year alone reached a whopping $47.6 million.
Over the course of his two decades in the NBA, the 38-year-old LeBron James has accumulated an impressive $432 million on the court. In addition to his basketball career, he produced the film Shooting Stars which tells the story of his high school basketball career and was released on Peacock in June. LeBron’s business endeavors have also earned him a spot as the fourth highest-paid athlete on Forbes’ list. Only Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo have earned more from their business ventures. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is the second richest player in the NBA with an estimated income of $101.9 million. Like LeBron, Curry has also delved into various business ventures such as launching a bourbon called Gentleman’s Cut and co-producing a documentary about himself on Apple TV. He has partnered with Penguin Workshop to publish a graphic novel series about sports superheroes and acquired stakes in VR platform Golf+ and TMRW Sports. Curry’s deal with Under Armour also earned him $75 million in stock. Despite earning $51.9 million on the court this year, Curry has placed second to LeBron for the sixth consecutive year. LeBron, who recently announced the release of his second children’s book “I Am More Than,” is expected to remain at the top of the charts. The book is available for pre-order and is set to release on April 2, 2024.
Stephen Curry, the guard for the Golden State Warriors, has been identified as the second wealthiest player with an estimated income of $101.9m. In 2020, LeBron James released a children’s book titled ‘I Promise,’ which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. The book was based on James’ I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, which was established back in 2018. James expressed his delight at the response from students, teachers, and their families towards ‘I Promise’ and its message of encouragement. With his latest book, ‘I Am More Than,’ James hopes to continue inspiring children to dream big and pursue their goals without letting anything hold them back. The book is all about believing in oneself and recognizing one’s true potential, which nobody else can define. James wants every reader to feel motivated to reach for “more than” in everything they do.