For the ninth year in a row, LeBron James has led the list of the wealthiest players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2023, the superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers earned a total of $117.6 million in earnings both on and off the court.
According to Forbes’ annual list of the highest-paid NBA players, LeBron James, who has held the title of basketball’s richest player ever since Kobe Bryant surpassed him for the second time in 2014, earned $47.6 million in on-court earnings this year. Kobe Bryant has been the richest player in the league since 2014.
On the court, the 38-year-old player has amassed a total of $432 million over the course of twenty years in the National Basketball Association (NBA), making him the player with the highest total in NBA history.
In the event that James decides to exercise his option for the upcoming season and continues to play for the Lakers until 2025, Spotrac predicts that he will reach the $530 million annual salary threshold.
Off the court, he continues to make millions of dollars through the SpringHill Company, which is a television and movie production company in which he continues to be the largest shareholder, as well as through marketing campaigns with companies such as Taco Bell and others and other companies.
LA Lakers star LeBron James has topped the NBA’s rich list for a ninth successive year in 2023
LeBron, who has reigned supreme as basketball’s richest player ever since Kobe Bryant edged him out for a second time in 2014, recorded $47.6m in on-court earnings this year
The 38-year-old has now raked in $432m on the court across two decades in the NBA
LeBron was also a producer on Shooting Stars, the film released on Peacock in June which told the story of his high-school basketball career.
Only tennis icon Roger Federer and soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo are said to have made more from their business endeavors than LeBron on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2023 – where he came in at fourth.
In the NBA charts, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was ranked as the second richest player with an estimated income of $101.9m.
Like LeBron, Curry also has a number of business ventures away from the sport, having recently teamed up with Unanimous for a documentary about himself on Apple TV and launched a bourbon called Gentleman’s Cut earlier this year.
The 35-year-old is also set to publish a graphic novel series about sports superheroes in partnership with Penguin Workshop, while he even acquired stakes in VR platform Golf+ and Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s company TMRW Sports late last year.
He also put pen to paper on a new deal with Under Armour back in March that came with $75m in stock.
On court Curry collected $51.9m this year, with $50m coming away from basketball.
It is the sixth straight year he has settled for second behind LeBron, who announced the release of his second children’s book titled ‘ I Am More Than’ this week.
The book is set to release April 2, 2024 and is currently available for pre-order.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was ranked as the second richest player with an estimated income of $101.9m
James previously released a children’s book in 2020 titled ‘I Promise,’ that became a New York Times bestseller.
‘I Promise’ was inspired by James’ I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, which was established in 2018.
The announcement of the book included a statement from James that read: ”It’s been incredible to see students, teachers and families respond to ‘I Promise’ and its message of encouragement.’
‘With this next book, we want to continue inspiring kids everywhere to keep dreaming big and not let anything hold them back.
‘I Am More Than’ is about believing in yourself and all the amazing things you’re capable of, which no one else can define for you. I hope everyone that reads it feels inspired to be ‘more than’ in everything they do.’