Lewis Hamilton and LeBron James are arguably the biggest athletes in the world across all sports. Both, even if past their absolute prime, have no intention of slowing down. With talent and success, also comes a lot of fame and money. They are legends in their sports and have two different personalities yet the common quotient is that they have etched their names in the history of the sport they compete in. 

So how did LeBron James become a billionaire?

Since his debut with Mclaren in 2007, the current Mercedes driver has gone on to smash many records. On the other hand, with four NBA championships, four NBA MVP awards, four NBA Finals MVP awards, three All-Star MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals, LeBron James has climbed to the very top echelon of basketball.

At 37 years old, LeBron James recently became the first active billionaire NBA player. And with Lewis at 37 as well, the question begs to be asked, how does their net worth compare?

For LeBron, it was his dream to be a billionaire. So much so that he said it on record in 2014 to GQ Magazine. “If it happens. It’s my biggest milestone,” he said. “Obviously. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited.”

In a career that has spanned over 19 years, James has accumulated more than $385 million in salary playing for teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Apart from basketball, endorsements and smart business ventures have netted him $900 million. A lifetime deal with Nike and brand deals with AT&T, PepsiCo, and Walmart have made him the second highest-earning athlete in the world. 

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The Spring Hill Company holds three of James’s companies into one reportedly earning him an estimated $300 million. Apart from that, investments in Fenway Sports Group, Blaze Pizza, and various real estate properties earn him over $200 million. 

How does Lewis Hamilton stack up against the MVP?

So how does LeBron James’s F1 friend Lewis Hamilton stack up against the 2003 number one draft pick? Well, for starters, he has an estimated net worth of only $285 million. His contract with Mercedes earns him $50 million and will see him with the team till 2023. 

Tommy Hilfiger, Gran Turismo Sport, Monster Energy, IWC, Sony, and Petronas are some of the companies that are tied to him. Reportedly Hamilton earns $15 million a year from the endorsements he has. 

Not just that, he has properties all over the world, most notably in Monaco, New York, and London. 

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Regardless of how much both of them earn, both LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton are legends and will be remembered for years to come.