Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are one of the richest celebrity couples in the world. While Brady is considered to be the best quarterback of his generation, Bundchen is one of the most successful models of all time. At one point in time, Bundchen earned more than all the NFL and NBA players, except for billionaire LeBron James.

James recently joined the billionaire club and became the first active NBA player to do so. His business ventures and endorsements have been the major reason for his billionaire status. Back in 2016, LeBron James had the highest salary in the NBA. However, it was only a few thousand dollars more than that of Bundchen’s.

In 2016, while James was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, his salary was $30.9 million. After him, there were six players with a salary of $26.5 million. Meanwhile, Bundchen earned $30.5 million that year. She was easily the highest earning model with a difference of almost $20 million from the second-placed model on the list.

Her earnings were more than the salary of all NFL players, including her husband Tom Brady. Her success as a supermodel is arguably unparalleled. She was the highest earning model for more than 15 consecutive years. While LeBron James earned a little more than Bundchen in terms of salary, his endorsements easily pushed him towards the top of the richest athletes list.

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With a huge increase in salaries over the past few years, there are currently 33 players who will earn more next season than what LeBron James earned just six years ago.

LeBron James is a genius businessman

While James has been on top of the highest earnings list for more than a decade, he has been slowly growing his business empire. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has a lifetime deal with Nike and has invested in the pizza chain Blaze Pizza.

He also owns a 1% stake in the Fenway Sports Group which owns Liverpool FC, Boston Red Sox, and more. He also built SpringHill Company, which is a tv and movie production outfit, along with his business partner and friend Mav Carter.

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LeBron’s success on the court has arguably helped him establish himself as a brilliant businessman. He will undoubtedly be earning long after he retires from basketball as well.