Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James are two of the greatest athletes of all time in their respective sports. The soccer player and the basketballer have huge followings across the globe, which means that they are among the richest sports stars.
There is no doubt about the two being the one of the greatest athletes of their time and thus comparisons have always been made between the two legends. The question that has been going on around about who is the richer among the two will be answered today as we divulge into their net worth, salary, businesses owned and endorsements.
Does LeBron James have a higher net worth than Cristiano Ronaldo?
The Portuguese is one of the greatest soccer players ever and became the first soccer player to earn $1 Billion in earnings. This means that much of Ronaldo’s fortunes come from his lucrative contracts over the years. But that doesn’t mean he is a billionaire, for that we will have to take a look at his net worth.
According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is around $500 million and most of this comes from his wages. He has been subject to some lucrative contracts during his time at Real Madrid, Manchester United, and now Al-Nassr.
LeBron James’s net worth is valued to be around $1 billion, according to Forbes. He has followed the footsteps of fellow NBA legend, Micheal Jordan, to become a billionaire. James is also the only active billionaire team sport athlete and thus is way richer than soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Who earns more through salaries among Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James?
Cristiano and LeBron are not only the richest athletes in their respective sports, but also among the best. This means that teams would go to any length to land the superstars offering them lucrative contracts for their services.
Ronaldo is subject to a hefty $200 million contract per year at his new club Al-Nassr. This bounty contract makes the Portuguese the highest paid soccer player currently surpassing Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s wages at PSG.
His wages at his previous club, Manchester United, were reported to be around $25 million a year. So it is quite clear that a move out of Europe has increased the Portuguese’s wages incredibly which would have a significant impact on his overall fortunes.
LeBron James has been with the Los Angeles Lakers since 2018 and is one of the most paid players in basketball. His current contract with LA Lakers earns him around $43 million a year making him the third best paid basketballer currently.
Even though LeBron earns significantly lower than Cristiano through salaries, his net worth is way ahead of the soccer player. This is because of the smart investments the American has been making from time to time, lets now take a look at them.
What businesses do LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo own?
LeBron James is one of the best players in the history of the NBA and has a huge following. He has had some hefty contracts throughout his time in NBA but most of his earnings have come from other businesses.
One of his biggest earners is his production company, SpringHill Company, which is worth around $700 million according to Sportico. He owns the company together with American businessman, Maverick Carter.
He also owns a restaurant chain, Blaze Pizza, which he bought when the franchise had only two locations. Blaze Pizza currently has 19 franchise locations and the company’s value has risen significantly and is now valued at a whopping $250 million.
Cristiano has also ventured into businesses to increase his net worth as he has a brand named ‘CR7’. This brand sells innerwear, eyewear, perfumes, and shoes which promotes Ronaldo as a brand while also earning him money.
The former Real Madrid man also owns a chain of hotels across Portugal and Madeira. He also earns a hefty amount from his Instagram as he is the most followed person on the app, way ahead of basketball legend LeBron James and his soccer rival, Lionel Messi.
How much are LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo’s endorsement deals worth?
Endorsements are one of the key factors in earnings of an athlete. Ronaldo endorses a collection of luxury brands consisting of NIKE, Armani and Tag Heuer. NIKE signed Cristiano in 2003 on a lifetime deal as they know how much star power and brand value the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner brings with him.
He also endorses other brands such as Herbalife, Castrol and PokerStars earning around $45 million every year. Brands love to have someone like Cristiano as their face as he has dominated the headlines of sports industry for over a decade with his performances.
LeBron James also has a good amount of endorsements up his sleeve. He represents NIKE, AT&T, Pepsico and Walmart and earns a whopping $100 million from his endorsement deals every year which is significantly higher than Cristiano.
So it is quite clear by comparing different aspects that LeBron James is richer than Cristiano Ronaldo. It has to be mentioned that both are at the twilights of their careers and are still performing at the highest level which needs to be commended. No matter how much money they have earned, the stars have earned millions of hearts throughout their careers which is the greatest gift for a sportsman.
