NBA star LeBron James’ net worth compared to NBA legends Shaq, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson when they retired

LeBron James is on top of the world right now. He has reached a milestone that players can only dream of. Yes, he is the all-time highest scorer in the NBA.

On Tuesday night, against Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers broke the previous record of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and subsequently became NBA All-time leading scorer.

Surpassing Kareem’s previous 38,387 points, King James now stands at 38,390 points and counting.

It is obvious that a player of LeBron’s caliber will receive huge money because of his immense talent. And yes, LeBron James has a huge net worth.

However, most of LBJ’s net worth comes from various endorsements and investments. A significant part of his net worth is also due to his huge NBA career earnings.

Here is LeBron James’ net worth compared to NBA legends Shaq O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson at the time of their retirement.

What was Michael Jordan’s net worth at the time of his retirement?

Perhaps Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. If anybody can compete with LeBron James, it is the one and only Michael Jordan.

One of the most prolific players of his time, Michael Jordan can also compete with King James in the net worth war.

However, 59-year-old Michael Jordan’s net worth was not that phenomenal when he was an active NBA player.

MJ played 15 seasons in the NBA, and during this time amassed several records, which included six NBA championships, 14-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA MVP, and much more. He is also a prestigious member of the Hall of Fame.

You may think a highly decorated player like Jordan had made bank while being an active player but sadly that was not the case for MJ. He was grossly underpaid during his NBA career.

In his 15 seasons, Jordan earned only around $94 million from NBA contracts. But he had a boatload of endorsements.

This Chicago Bulls legend had several sponsors including Nike, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Wheaties, and Chevrolet. MJ’s major earnings hence were off the court.

So, during the time of Michael Jordan’s retirement, it can be assumed that he had an estimated net worth of just $100 million.

However, Michael Jordan’s 2023 net worth is estimated to be a staggering $1.7 billion. This huge net worth is mainly credited to the businesses and investments that Jordan has.

What was Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth at the time of his retirement?

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the best Centers ever to grace the basketball court. Nicknamed the ‘Big Diesel’, Shaq was a bully and used to dominate the court.

Shaq’s domination made him a legend and his ball skills earned him many accolades. He went on the become a four-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, 15-time NBA All-Star, and much more.

50-year-old Shaq played 19 seasons in the NBA and is known for his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was during his LA Lakers tenure that Shaq formed the deadly duo with the late great Kobe Bryant.

In his 19-years of NBA career, Shaq earned $292 million in NBA salary. Further, he earned $200 million from endorsements while playing in the NBA.

So, it can be assumed that during the time of retirement, Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal had an estimated net worth of $200 million.

In 2023, Shaq has an estimated net worth of over $400 million. He has several businesses and investments which has made Shaq richer during his retirement.

What was Magic Johnson’s net worth at the time of his retirement?

Magic Johnson is another Los Angeles Lakers legend who is widely known for his exceptional ball-handling skills. Johnson’s playmaking ability promptly earned him the nickname ‘Magic.’

63-year-old Magic Johnson played 13 seasons in the NBA and had a Hall of Famer career. Johnson won five NBA champions, three-time NBA Finals MVP, three-time NBA MVP, 12-time NBA All-Star, and much more.

Further, Johnson played 905 NBA games and finished his career with 17,707 points, 6,559 rebounds, and 10,141 assists.

In his legendary NBA career of 13 years, Johnson earned just around $39.3 million in NBA salary. Nevertheless, he earned a great amount of money from his sponsors and endorsements.

So, it can be assumed that during the time of retirement, Magic Johnson had an estimated net worth of just $50 – $100 million.

However, in 2023, Magic Johnson is one of the richest athletes ever. Presently, Johnson has an estimated net worth of $620 Million, thanks to his various business ventures.

What is the current net worth of LeBron James?

Just like his basketball skills, LBJ has great skills in money making. He has a milestone that no other NBA player has ever achieved.

LeBron James is the only active NBA player who has a net worth of over a billion dollars. Yes, you heard that right.

According to Forbes, LeBron James has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. Currently, James is drawing a massive $86 million salary from the Lakers and his estimated career earnings amount to a huge $432 million.

Along with this salary, LBJ has several businesses, investments, and rakes in huge dollars from various endorsements.

His most famous endorsements are that of Nike, Mcdonalds, Microsoft, State Farm, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Dunkin-Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Samsung, and more. Reports say that he has earned around $900 million in income from endorsements and other business ventures.

There you have it; LeBron James’ net worth compared to NBA legends Shaq, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson when they retired.

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