LeBron James signs new contract that will make him highest-paid player in NBA history

Sooooo much money.
 By 
Sam Laird
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Fresh off delivering the Cleveland Cavaliers their first-ever NBA championship, LeBron James finally signed his new contract.

It. Is. A. Whopper.

James himself broke the news in a video posted to Twitter on Thursday evening.


You May Also Like

James' agent, childhood friend Rich Paul, gave more details to ESPN.com. The deal is reportedly worth $100 million over three seasons. The second year will pay James just over $33 million, according to ESPN.com -- topping the $33 million the Chicago Bulls paid Michael Jordan in his final season with the team.

The new deal's first year, this coming season, will pay James $31 million to make him the NBA's highest-paid active player for the first time ever. The third season is reportedly a player option.

Now let's break the full contract down into terms everyone can relate to.

Divide $100 million by 1,095, (the number of days contained in three years) and you get $91,324. That's how much James will make every single day under his new contract.

Divide that by 24 and you get $3,805 -- that's how much James will make every single hour of every single day.

Divide that by 60 and you get $63.42 -- that's how much James will make every single minute of every single day.

Divide that by 60 and you get $1.06 -- that's how much James will make every single second of every single day for the duration of his new contract.

So, yeah: LeBron James will earn more than a dollar every single second for every single minute of every single day during his new contract.

And yet, he's still underpaid.

Time to start practicing that jump shot, people.

Mashable Image
Sam Laird

Sam Laird is Mashable's Senior Sports Reporter. He covers the wide, weird world of sports from all angles -- as well as occasional other topics -- from Mashable's San Francisco bureau. Before joining Mashable in November 2011, his freelance work appeared in publications including the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Slam, and East Bay Express. Sam is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, and basketball and burritos take up most of his spare time. Follow him on Twitter @samcmlaird.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
3 AdultFriendFinder features exclusive to paid users
By Jack Dawes
Plus signs coming out of treasure chest

How to watch NBA live streams online for free
Male basketball player dunks the ball with two hands. Close up on the rim, net and ball.

How to watch Warriors vs. Knicks online for free
Basketball going through hoop

How to watch Pistons vs. Knicks online for free
Basketball up close

How to watch Magic vs. Pacers online for free
Basketball going through hoop

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!