LeBron James may not be competing for a NBA title in 2021, but that doesn’t mean he won’t win big this year. The 4-time NBA champion and star of Space Jam: A New Legacy is on pace to join the billionaire club very soon.
According to reports, King James, who is the NBA’s top-earning player, is set to bring in more than $95 million USD this year, which will push the co-owner of the Boston Red Sox’s net worth over the billion-dollar mark. The Los Angeles Lakers star will soon be a part of a growing list of Black celebrities and entertainers whose entrepreneurial skills, lucrative deals and big investments have built billion-dollar empires. Here’s a look at current and soon-to-be Black billionaires in sports and entertainment.
Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $2.7B
Empire includes: OWN; Deals with Apple TV and Weight Watchers
Kanye West
Net worth: $1.8B
Empire includes: Music, Partnerships with adidas and GAP for Yeezy line; Investment in Kim Kardashian West’s Skims
Michael Jordan
Net worth: $1.6B
Empire includes: Jordan Brand; Ownership of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and Nascar’s 23XI Racing; Deals with Hanes and Gatorade; Investments/Advisory role in DraftKings
Jay-Z
Net worth: $1.4B
Empire includes: Music; Roc Nation Entertainment Company; Armand de Brignac champagne; D’ussé cognac; Marcy Venture Partners
Tyler Perry
Net worth: $1B
Empire includes: Madea franchise; Film empire; Tyler Perry Studios; Deals with OWN Viacom; Stake in BET+ streaming service
Dr. Dre
Net worth: $800M
Empire includes: Beats Electronics; Aftermath Entertainment
Tiger Woods
Net worth: $800M
Empire includes: Being a golf G.O.A.T.; Deals with Bridgestone, Monster Energy, Nike, Rolex, TaylorMade and Upper Deck
Diddy
Net worth: $740M (as of 2019)
Empire includes: Music; Revolt TV; Ciroc; DeLeón tequila and Aquahydrate alkaline water
Rihanna
Net worth: $600M (as of 2019)
Empire includes: Music; Fenty Beauty; Savage X Fenty; Fenty Skin
Space Jam: A New Legacy is out today and here are the rest of our most anticipated movie sequels that are coming soon.
Photo via Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press