But what was lost in all the hoopla surrounding "The Decision" was that, in the one hour of television, LeBron James actually made $3 million dollars. He made true on his promise and donated the proceeds to the Boys and Girls Club Foundation, but this event underlines and prominent theme of LeBron's career. He can make money. A lot of it.
Fresh out of high school, LeBron signed a $90 million deal with Nike to have his own signature shoe. To date, he has endorsement deals with many companies including McDonald's, Upper Deck, State Farm, and Coca-Cola. Last year, LeBron was ranked 4th on the list of highest grossing American Athletes.
Earlier this month, Lebron agreed to his newest endorsement deal with Audemars Piguet. The company makes luxury watches and has brought LeBron in to be the brand ambassador.
From the official site:
In addition to representing the brand on the international stage, LeBron will collaborate with Audemars Piguet to create a special limited-edition watch. LeBron has decided to donate the proceeds from any future auctions of his timepieces to his namesake charity, the LeBron James Family Foundation and its children’s related activities. This partnership is another chapter in Audemars Piguet’s long-standing tradition of philanthropy.
“Audemars Piguet and I strive for excellence in all our endeavors,” said LeBron. “I am honored to be the next global brand ambassador and join the ranks of industry greats who have previously represented the brand. “I am also excited to collaborate with AP on an exclusive timepiece that will be the ultimate symbol of our partnership,” adds LeBron.LeBron's popularity may have taken a slight hit this summer, but the fact remains the same. He will continue to be one of the most famous faces in sports and continue to cash in, off of the court.
