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“Oh my God, I’m gonna be so excited”: LeBron James to become the 5th active player to cross $1 billion in career earnings after Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Samir Mehdi
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“Oh my God, I’m gonna be so excited”: LeBron James shares his excitement for one day being a part of the billion-dollar club to join the likes of Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi

LeBron James is about to cross $1 billion in career earnings by the end of 2021 and the 4x NBA champion couldn’t be more excited. 

LeBron James is perhaps the most notable athlete of this generation, at least in the United States. His influence has transcended mere basketball and reached nearly every nook and craney of the world.

Guys like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are no doubt more popular worldwide but do not garner the same type of attention LeBron James does. When James speaks, the world listens. 

So it isn’t surprising that the ‘King’ is set to be a part of rarified air, as per usual. This time, he joins an exclusive club off the court and that is the billion dollar club. James is on track to reach this milestone sometime next season. 

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LeBron James is set to make his first billion dollars

The 4x champ is set to make nearly $100 million this season. Interestingly enough, around $65 million of that comes from his various endorsements. He is set to make $31 million from his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He was initially going to make $39 million this year, but due to the NBA suffering from the pandemic, they are cutting each player’s salary by 20% as a result of their escrow system. 

Also Read: “Slam Dunk Contest did not line up with LeBron James’ brand at the time”: A close aide of the Lakers superstar explains why LBJ never competed in the dunk contest

When asked about eventually being a part of such rarified company, LeBron said, “It’s my biggest milestone. Obviously, I want to maximize my business. If I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete then hip hip hooray! Oh my god, I’m going to be so excited.” 

According to Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes, James is set to surpass the $1 billion mark by the end of 2021. He will join the likes of Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and former NBA superstar, Michael Jordan. Jordan is the only NBA player to have crossed the $1 billion mark in their career. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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