Claim: LeBron James is earning nearly four times his annual $3.9 million Philadelphia 76ers salary through a new $15 million-per-year endorsement deal with Polymarket.
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In July 2026, LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and is expected to earn roughly $3.9 million during the 2026–27 season. More recently, on September 5, Front Office Sports reported that James had partnered with Polymarket after his endorsement deal with DraftKings expired.
The new partnership primarily focuses on football, with James promoting Polymarket across his social media channels as part of a broader campaign that was expected to include additional content and promotional activities. Then, on September 16, Front Office Sports reported that James’ Polymarket deal is worth a whopping $15 million per year.
If accurate, that would mean James is earning nearly four times as much from Polymarket annually as he does from his 76ers contract. But is that really the case? Here’s what we found!
Our Verdict: True
Despite his deal with Polymarket, James is only an endorser and does not hold an investment stake in the prediction-market platform. That sets him apart from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who owns a stake in Polymarket’s rival, Kalshi. As for the length of James’ Polymarket contract, that remains unclear. FOS cited a source who described the arrangement as an “ongoing engagement” involving multiple deliverables, including social-media posts and other promotional content.
James is also far from the only celebrity associated with Polymarket. Derek Jeter and Eli Manning reportedly have smaller endorsement deals with the company, while Spike Lee, Reggie Bush, and Alexandra Daddario have appeared in a Polymarket commercial. However, some of those celebrities may have been paid solely for their appearances rather than signing longer-term agreements. Still, the growing list of high-profile names should come as little surprise, with both Polymarket and Kalshi aggressively signing prominent athletes, leagues, and teams as the football season gets underway.
The NBA and NFL, meanwhile, have yet to officially embrace prediction markets. While the NBA appears to be moving closer to agreements with prediction-market companies, the NFL has remained opposed to the concept. Despite their growing popularity, sports-related prediction contracts have faced legal challenges from states and Native American tribes, with critics arguing that they effectively resemble traditional sports betting, which is regulated at the state level. The dispute could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As for Polymarket, the company has attracted backing from ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, as well as 1789 Capital, the investment firm associated with Donald Trump Jr. The latter recently invested another $1 billion in the prediction-market platform.
Our fact-checking sources:
- Game Day Chatter, October 4, 2026. LeBron James’ 76ers situation just took an unexpected turn
- Front Office Sports, September 5, 2026. LeBron James Jumps to Polymarket From DraftKings, With Football Focus
- Front Office Sports, September 16, 2026. LeBron James Polymarket Deal Worth $15 Million a Year
- CNBC Sports, March 30, 2026. NFL asks prediction market operators to refrain from ‘objectionable bets’
- Dealroom, August 31, 2026. Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital leads $1B round in Polymarket at $21B valuation