King James, who helped his Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Golden State Warriors on Friday, sending them to the Western Conference finals, isn’t just the NBA’s highest-paid player: he’s also the world’s most expensive athlete. He’s also a savvy investor, having amassed millions of dollars through endorsement deals, the sports group that owns the Boston Red Sox, and a variety of real estate holdings. Here’s how LeBron James became the league’s first active player to become a billionaire, according to Forbes.

According to Spotrac,2 James earned more than $431 million in his two decades of playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. According to Deadline, he signed a two-year, $97 million contract extension with the Lakers last August, bringing his earnings past $500 million and making him the highest-paid NBA player. According to Forbes, he outpaid every professional athlete except soccer star Lionel Messi last year.

According to Forbes, James has more than $500 million in cash and other investments, as well as a $80 million real estate portfolio.

Here are the companies and brands that made the NBA star rich.                                          

Brand Collaborations 

James has made millions of dollars through partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands, including a lifetime deal with Nike in 2015 and others with PepsiCo and Walmart.

According to Forbes, he earns approximately $32 million per year from Nike. James’ longtime business partner, Maverick Carter, told GQ that the deal is worth more than $1 billion. According to Forbes, his endorsements and businesses will net him more than $900 million by 2022.

Investments 

LeBron, 38, is also an investor in many of the companies with which he collaborates. Among his most profitable investments are: 

Beats by Dr. Dre

James was an early investor and ambassador for the Beats by Dre headphone brand. According to Bleacher Report, he received an estimated $30 million in cash and stock when the company was purchased by Apple for $3 billion in 2014.

On Dubs Talk: A Golden State Warriors Podcast in 2020, James’ former teammate Kendrick Perkins claimed that James earned $700 million as a “silent investor” in Beats by Dre.

Pizza Blaze

James was a founding investor in Blaze Pizza and serves as the company’s primary brand ambassador. Forbes reports that James turned down a $15 million endorsement deal with McDonald’s in order to invest in Blaze Pizza.

According to Forbes, LeBron’s stake in the Blaze franchise is worth around $30 million. According to ESPN, James and Carter’s initial investment in the company was less than $1 million. The made-to-order pizza chain has locations throughout the United States and Canada. 

SpringHill Enterprises 

According to Bloomberg, James and Carter launched their entertainment and production company, SpringHill, in 2020 with a $100 million investment. According to Forbes, SpringHill sold a minority stake to a group of investors in 2021 for approximately $725 million. RedBird Capital Partners, Fenway Sports Group, Nike, and Epic Games were among the investors. According to Forbes, James is still the largest single shareholder, with a $300 million stake.

The production company has supported projects such as the James-starred film Space Jam: A New Legacy, a YouTube talk show called The Shop: Uninterrupted, and Adam Sandler’s Netflix film, Hustle, among other film, television, and audio ventures.

“Studio.” SpringHill Company.

Fenway Sports & Entertainment Group 

In 2021, James and Carter will sell their stakes in Liverpool F.C. in the English Premier League to become part owners of the global sports, marketing, and real estate platform Fenway Sports Group. According to Forbes, James owns an estimated 1% of FSG, which is worth around $90 million.1 Among other assets, Fenway Sports Group owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Fenway Park, 50% of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing, and 80% of the New England Sports Network.