Not only is LeBron James one of the most accomplished basketball players in NBA history, he’s also one of the most accomplished athletes of all time. His basketball accolades are almost completely unmatched and what’s even more impressive is his level of play at 40 years old.
Yet, it’s not just basketball accomplishments that make James who he is, with his off-the-court empire continuing to flourish. From acting in movies and commercials to his shoe deal with Nike, James’ marketability has made him one of the world’s most famous people.
Companies Owned by LeBron James
The genius behind James’ advertising deals is that when he advertises something, there’s a good chance he negotiated an ownership stake in the company he’s advertising for. James believes in or at least uses the products he pushes. Because of this, his empire continues to grow year by year.
On the basketball court alone, James is approaching $500 million in earnings. Meanwhile, his stake in these companies have pushed him to the billionaire threshold, something he said would be his greatest accomplishment.
Fenway Sports Group
It all began in 2011 when James bought a 2% stake in the Liverpool Football Club, owned by Fenway Sports Group. Ten years later, he and his business partner, Maverick Carter, received a 1% share of FSG, becoming the first Black owners in the group.
In 2023, James and Carter increased their shares in the company as part of a lifetime marketing deal. Fenway Sports Group owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
SpringHill Company
The SpringHill Company is a merger of SpringHill Entertainment, Uninterrupted, and The Robot Co. While Carter is the CEO, James’ involvement has brought in several partners such as Warner Brothers, Nike, Fenway Sports Group, and RedBird.
SpringHill also works with Fulwell 73, a British media company partly owned by James Corden, and helped produce projects such as “The Kardashians” and the Grammys. While the company has struggled to turn a profit since its creation in 2020, the new partnerships look to change that permanently.
Ladder
James remains a minority shareholder of the Ladder app after selling his majority stake to Openfit in 2020. James founded the company in 2018 alongside Cindy Crawford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lindsey Vonn. While James keeps a minority stake, he will continue assisting with promotional needs.
Blaze Pizza
James’ involvement with Blaze Pizza began in 2012 as an investor. Five years after that initial investment, it was estimated that his stake was worth $30 million.
James is a current franchisee of locations in Chicago and Miami. As with any product he has a stake in, James promotes his products on social media, where he has millions of followers.
James is also an investor in real estate and earns income from endorsement deals from Nike, DraftKings, PepsiCo, and Taco Bell, amongst others. James also received an estimated $30 million from Apple when they purchased Beats by Dre in 2014, and he had a minority stake in the company in exchange for his endorsement.
