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Lakers star LeBron James is a billionaire — and notoriously cheap. Here are several examples.

Lakers star LeBron James is a billionaire and notoriously cheap. Here are several examples.

Cork Gaines

LeBron James.Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images

LeBron James is a four-time champion, four-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, and soon to be the highest-paid NBA player of all time. LeBron is also a billionaire.
James' most recent contract is a two-year, $97 million contract with the Lakers that will pay him $50 million in 2024-25, and he makes more than that off the court.

LeBron is one of the wealthiest athletes ever.

LeBron James and wife, Savannah, attend Netflix's "Hustle" World Premiere at Regency Village Theatre on June 01, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

LeBron has made $432 million during his 20-year NBA career. He also signed a two-year, $97 million extension with the Lakers that will give him $141 million over the next three years. The extension will make James the highest-earning player of all time, with $532 million.

In addition to his NBA salary, LeBron also makes roughly $90 million a year in endorsements off the court.

YouTube/Kia Motors America

The King led all athletes with $126.9 million in on- and off-court earnings in 2021. The following year, he ranked second on the same list — behind World Cup winner Lionel Messi — with $121.2 million total earnings.

Source: Sportico, Forbes

Thanks in large part to his lifetime deal with Nike, LeBron is now a billionaire, according to Forbes.

LeBron James has a lifetime deal with Nike. Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images

Forbes estimates that he has earned "upwards of $900 million in income from endorsements and other business ventures."

Source: Forbes

But he is also open about how cheap he can be at times.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Despite his expensive tastes when it comes to cars and houses, Dwyane Wade once called James "the cheapest guy in the NBA."

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

LeBron responded by saying that was "so, so, so, so falsely true."

Warren Buffett was kinder, saying of LeBron, "He's savvy. He's smart about financial matters."

Warren Buffett speaks onstage during Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on October 13, 2015 in Washington, DC. Paul Morigi/Getty Images

"It's amazing to me the maturity he exhibits," the famed investor said of LeBron.

Source: Sporting News

One example is his phone. James won't use his phone if it is not on wifi.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

"No, I'm not doing that," LeBron once said. "I'm not turning on data roaming, I'm not buying no apps, I still got Pandora with commercials."

When Pandora heard that, they offered LeBron a free premium account.

LeBron James. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

He was once spotted riding a bicycle to a game in Miami.

LeBron James rides a bike to work. Twitter/jackNruth

LeBron also said he would not pay for a blue checkmark on Twitter.

Twitter owner Elon Musk. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

James referenced his frugality when declining to pay to keep his blue checkmark on the new Elon Musk-helmed Twitter.

"Welp guess my blue ✔️ will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain't paying the 5," James wrote on Twitter.

Despite his money savvy, LeBron does have expensive tastes in some areas and also gives a lot of money to charitable endeavors. Check those out here.

LeBron James' home, which Arana sold to the basketball player for $22.5 million. Marc Angeles /Unlimited Style Photography

LeBron James is now a billionaire — here's how he makes and spends his millions

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