USA Today via Reuters

In the 21 years that he has devoted to the NBA, LeBron James has amassed quite a legacy, on-court and off. He is dominant and influential, which is reflected in the kind of financial decisions he has made so far. With over $100,000,000 invested in different American sectors that make (insert drum roll) over 16.7% of the country’s GDP, James is living his life large.

In each of the states the NBA star has lived, he’s invested his income into real estate. Not only does he ensure he’s relaxing and comfortable after spending a hard day on the court, but he also ensures he shares the same luxury (and investments into the properties) with his wife, Savannah, and his three children, Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. His investment journey started in 2003, when he first bought a Bath Township property, northwest of Akron for $2.1 million. He built a 30,000-square-foot mansion for himself and his family just at the age of 18 at the time. Hold your horses, because this is going to blow your mind – his very first property includes 6 bedrooms, 8 full and 6 half bathrooms, a recording studio, a movie theater, a barbershop, an aquarium, a bowling alley, and of course, a sports bar. It even houses a two-story walk-in closet. The property is currently valued at over $9 million.

King James has a lot to contribute to the sector that accounts for approximately 16% of the United States’ GDP – Real estate. Not a long time after he bought a massive property in Akron in 2003, he continued exploring his options as he climbed the NBA ladder.

In 2010, James parted ways with the Cavaliers, moving on to the Miami Heat. Not a long time after that, he reportedly paid over $9 million to purchase a three-story custom-built haven in Florida. After spending four years, the player sold the 12,178-square-foot mansion for $13.4 million. By 2015, even before entering the Lakers, King James had already started expanding his reach into LA. Soon after returning to the Cavaliers, he purchased a whopping $21 million house in the Brentwood area. And this was just one of the houses he was going to buy in the LA region. The Brentwood house featured 6 bedrooms, patios, a Calcutta marble kitchen, a home gym (of course, he needs to work out), an infinity pool, and a huge garage. In early 2021, James listed this house for $20.5 million, selling it at a minor loss, for $19.6 million.
 

In late 2017, James again bought a $23.5 million mansion, with 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a wine cellar, a cigar room, a theater, and an onyx bar. Of course, he also built a massive gym that was linked to a spa, sauna, massage, and steam room. And then in 2020, when people were busy hiding inside their homes to not get infected with the virus, King James bought yet another sprawling mansion in Beverly Hills for $36.8. The 13,000-square-foot property was previously owned by Katherine Hepburn and Hugh Hefner. It is a Mediterranean-style property, with a giant screening room, indoor fountains, a tennis court, a pool house, two guest houses, and of course, to justify the pool house, a massive swimming pool. The property even offers spectacular views of the City of Los Angeles, when (we can only assume) James relaxes away from the noise that is this world.

If you are a king, you have to live like a king, right? LeBron James understands this philosophy. Of the five properties he has bought so far, he owns 3 of them. And the King hasn’t retired yet. Who knows what’s more to come? What are your thoughts on James’ massive portfolio? Isn’t it intriguing?