David Beckham vs LeBron James: Who Has Flashier Endorsement Deals?

Think about a pure right-winger, and David Beckham is sure to appear in your mind. A fashionable player both on and off the pitch, Beckham excelled like no other soccer player in his active days. His ball-playing abilities, free-kicks, and crosses are still considered the stuff of legends in the soccer community.

Another athlete right up there with Beckham is LeBron James. The Lakers player is often regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The five-time NBA champion has become a global icon and has one of the biggest fan bases in the sport.

But which of these icons has the higher net worth and the better endorsement deals?

The net worth of David Beckham in 2022

The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Even years after his retirement, Beckham’s earnings are better than many active athletes, owing to his global appeal.

The Englishman earned an estimated $255million in his six-season tenure with the LA Galaxy (MLS). The earnings included salary, revenue shares, endorsements, and licensing. With PSG, he earned $50million annually. Surprisingly, David’s biggest endorsement deal came in 2021, eight years after retirement, when he became Qatar’s Tourism Ambassador.

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Reports suggested he signed a 10-year deal worth a minimum of $210million. At its epitome, the deal could fetch Beckham close to $280million. After considering all his signings, Beckham’s net worth sits around $450million in 2022.

LeBron James’ net worth in 2022

The first pick of the 2003 NBA Draft was LeBron James. A young James was drafted by his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers. His first contract saw him earn $18.8million in four years. The Akron Hammer then signed an extension deal for three years worth $60million.

The Chosen One’s first deal with Nike came when he was 18. The deal offered to pay him $90million over seven years. Notably, he rejected Reebok’s $115 million offer to accept Nike’s.

He later signed deals with McDonald’s, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Beats by Dre, and more. In fact, James also owned 1% off Beats by Dre. Later, when the company was sold to Apple, James earned $30million.

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Notably, his biggest deal came in 2015. LBJ signed a lifetime deal with Nike that could be worth over a billion. Not only was this Nike’s first-ever lifetime endorsement deal, but it was also their biggest. Owing to all these deals, James’ net worth is over $1 Billion as of 2022.

So clearly, LeBron wins this game of net worth against Beckham.