Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a force on and off the court.
Although his team had a terrible season, he put forth an impressive statistical season, averaging 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, making it seem he still has plenty left in his tank.
Off the court, he has been his usual busy self, especially when it has come to his business ventures.
Over the past year, James was the highest-paid athlete in the world.
Now, Forbes magazine estimates he has passed a monumental milestone when it comes to his net worth.
Via Lakers Daily:
“Since becoming a massive brand, James has managed to take his fame and the fortune that he’s made playing basketball and turn it into a business empire.
“Perhaps that’s why he’s become the first active NBA player to reach a net worth of $1 billion. Forbes discussed the momentous occasion in a recent article.
“‘After another monster year of earnings–totaling $121.2 million last year–Forbes estimates that James has officially become a billionaire, while still playing hoops,’ Chase Peterson-Withorn wrote.
“‘The 37-year-old superstar has a net worth of $1 billion, by Forbes’ count. James, who’s missing the playoffs for just the fourth time in 19 seasons, is the first active NBA player to make the billionaires list. (Michael Jordan, the only other basketball billionaire, didn’t hit ten figures until 2014, more than a decade after he retired, thanks to a well-timed investment in the Charlotte Hornets basketball team.)'”
James’ life story was already inspirational, having grown up as the son of a low-income single mother in Akron, Ohio, but now he has added another notch to his belt.
With new head coach Darvin Ham in place, the Lakers are hoping they will get James his fifth NBA world championship ring next summer.
