Listing LeBron James' top 5 endorsement deals

LeBron James is the highest earner among active NBA players
LeBron James is the highest earner among active NBA players

#3 Samsung

LeBron James reacts after scoring against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 19, 2021
LeBron James reacts after scoring against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 19, 2021

James famously signed a lucrative contract worth over US$100 million with the electronics corporation in 2012. The deal ran until 2017 and included marketing and commercials for the company.

During his endorsement, his relationship with the company went through troubled periods, none more high profile than his infamous deleted Samsung Galaxy tweet in 2014 which saw him take aim at the company after reportedly having all his media deleted.

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#2 Beats by Dre

LeBron James looks at the Phoenix Suns bench after scoring at Staples Center on October 22, 2021
LeBron James looks at the Phoenix Suns bench after scoring at Staples Center on October 22, 2021

James' deal with Beats is one of his biggest to date. He signed with the company in 2008 to promote their product and reportedly earned US$ one million per commercial and marketing before acquiring a minor stake in the company.

However, his biggest payout came from Apple’s US$3 billion acquisition of the headphone company. The deal sees James bag a hefty US$ 30 million for his stake in the company.

However, there have been rumors of James earning more than US$ 700 million from the buyout due to deeper connections with Beats by Dre before the acquisition.


#1 Nike

LeBron James smiles during media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2021
LeBron James smiles during media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2021

Since choosing a less profitable Nike deal over a Reebok endorsement in his early days in the NBA, James has gone from strength to strength. He joined Michael Jordan as one of the global NBA icons representing the sneaker giant, going on to amass a lot of wealth from a made in heaven partnership with the company.

His first deal in 2003 saw him pull in an US$ 87 million contract, launching a series of shoes inspired by him. The superstar currently makes over US$ 32 million a year from his entire dealings with Nike.

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