The debate over whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the best NBA player will continue long after James retires from the league.
Both players shined during their NBA careers and together they have won 10 championships, participated in 34 All-Star Games and won nine MVP trophies. James is still playing and will be able to add points to his list of all-time greats, ahead of Jordan.
But it won’t be easy to do so; after all, Jordan has six championships to his name.
But one area where LeBron will certainly win is in his career earnings. The Lakers star is one of the highest-paid players in NBA history, and his new contract with Los Angeles only reinforces those eye-catching numbers.
That said, Jordan has made a lot of money off the court with endorsement deals and corporate acquisitions, allowing him to become a billionaire, a status James has yet to achieve.
Here’s what you need to know about James and Jordan’s career earnings and net worths as James signs another high-profile contract.
LeBron James career earnings
James is one of the highest-earning NBA players of all time. He has earned an impressive amount $479,466,457 During his career, for Spotrac.com.
James’ new contract allows him to add at least another $49,987,718 million as part of his two-year extension with the Lakers. If he exercises his player option and plays out the remainder of that contract, he will have a total of $583,440,910 to his name for his NBA career.
In 21 seasons, James has won four NBA titles, four NBA MVPs and has been named to no less than 20 consecutive All-Star Games. As such, he has been worth every penny to the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers during his NBA career.
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Michael Jordan’s career earnings
Jordan’s career earnings pale in comparison to James’, as NBA contracts simply weren’t as lucrative during the Bulls star’s playing days.
Jordan earned $93,877,500 in total during his 16-year NBA career, according to Spotrac.comHe earned $4 million or less in 14 of his 16 seasons. In those two banner seasons, the Bulls star earned $30.14 million and $33.14 million during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons respectively, before retiring from the NBA to try his luck in minor league baseball.
Like James, Jordan was worth what the Bulls (and Wizards) spent to sign him. The Hall of Famer was a 14-time All-Star, a six-time NBA Finals champion and MVP, and a five-time regular-season MVP winner.
Had Jordan played in the modern NBA (especially after the league signed a television deal in 2016 that sent salaries skyrocketing), he might have rivaled LeBron’s career earnings. Still, Jordan can’t complain too much, as his endorsement deals and partnership with Nike under the Jordan Brand have allowed him to become one of the richest people in the world.
Michael Jordan Net Worth
Jordan has a net worth of 3.2 billion dollarsaccording ForbesThe former NBA star made most of his money from off-court endorsement deals with Nike, Hanes and Gatorade. He used the roughly $2.4 billion in wealth generated by those teams to buy a majority stake in the Hornets; he recently sold it in a deal that valued the franchise at $3 billion.
According to Forbes, Jordan is ranked 1,017th among the richest people in the world as of July 3. While he may not have earned a significant income when he played in the NBA, he has certainly done well for himself after ending his basketball career.
LeBron James Net Worth
James has surpassed Jordan during his playing days, but the current Laker has a net worth of 1.2 billion dollarsaccording to Forbes. That makes him the richest active athlete of all time.
James has earned far more than Jordan on the court, but his success off the court is a bit more measured than Jordan’s. James has earned an estimated $900 million from endorsement deals with Pepsi and Nike. He has also acquired shares in certain companies and products, such as Beats by Dre and Fenway Sports Group.
James is ranked the 2,741st richest person in the world as of July 3. It’s unclear if that data or projections cover the $104 million he is anticipated to earn as part of his deal with the Lakers, but James is only hoping to rise as he continues to exploit the NBA’s near-maximum salary of more than $50 million in the twilight of his playing days.
