LeBron James is no stranger to making the right moves on and off the court.

The Los Angeles Lakers player has been in the NBA since 2003. His imprint on the league includes four championship rings, four Finals MVP awards, becoming the all-time leading scorer, and many other accolades, according to his NBA profile. 

Business Pursuits Beyond The NBA

Aside from his on-court success, LeBron has built a lasting legacy through his philanthropic initiatives, including the I Promise School established by his foundation in 2017, and in business as a lifetime Nike athlete and serial investor, as AFROTECH™ previously shared.

It had been reported that he invested in the English Premier League’s Liverpool Football Club in 2011 alongside his business partner, Maverick Carter, securing a 2% stake in the team for $6.5 million, according to Basketball Network. However, the outlet shared that was not the case after all. Instead of paying out of pocket, the deal granted the parent company, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), exclusive rights to market James’ image in exchange for Liverpool FC shares.

Sports Pro reported that the agreement was an exclusive partnership with his personal sports-marketing firm, LRMR Marketing & Branding, to secure “global marketing and sponsorship opportunities for Mr. James.” The aim was to increase revenue for James and the organizations within FSG’s portfolio of brands.

“There are very few athletes who can match his global reach, appeal, and iconic status,” said FSG co-owner Tom Werner, according to Sports Pro. “We are excited that LeBron will be part of the Liverpool FC family. LeBron and Liverpool each have a powerful presence internationally, with particular strength in Asia, but we feel the business opportunities for both working and being identified together in emerging international markets will result in unforeseen opportunities that neither would have been able to realize alone.”

James and Carter made history as the first Black partners in FSG, according to Basketball Network, which also meant the pair had a stake in the Boston Red Sox, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New England Sports Network, among others.

How Much Would James’ Stake Be Worth Today

By 2019, Liverpool Football Club was valued at $2.18 billion, per Forbes. Two years later, James exchanged his stake in Liverpool FC for a 1% stake in FSG, UNILAD Tech reports. 

By this time, Liverpool had also won both the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League and was valued at $4.1 billion in 2021, per the outlet.

UNILAD Tech estimates James’ stake to be roughly $123 million, or as much as $141.9 million, per Basketball Network.