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On the day LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny, made history as the first father-son pair to play in the NBA, LeBron's 11-year reign as the league's highest annual earner came to an end. According to Sportico, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has overtaken James as the NBA's top earner for the 2024-25 season when factoring in both salary and endorsements.
Last season, Curry ranked second, but this year he's surpassed his gold-medal-winning teammate to claim the top spot. The four-time champion is set to bring in an estimated $155.8 million from his salary and endorsements during the season. In comparison, James is expected to make $133.7 million, which includes $48.7 million from his salary and $85 million in endorsement deals.
Curry's earnings include a one-year, $55.8 million contract extension signed with the Warriors this offseason, securing him the highest on-court salary for the eighth consecutive year. He will also earn $100 million in endorsements. This marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that someone other than LeBron has led the earnings list.
Before Curry, the last player to top the earnings chart ahead of LeBron was the late Kobe Bryant. Throughout his 15-year NBA career, Curry has consistently demonstrated success both on and off the court. In 2017, he became the first NBA player to sign a $200 million contract, followed by a second four-year, $215 million extension in 2021. In the 2026-27 season, Curry will earn $62.6 million, further boosting his impressive net worth.
Curry, with a reported net worth of $180 million, has also made significant business strides, much like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. His partnership with Under Armour, which began in 2013, has grown the company's value from $14 billion to $28 billion. The launch of Curry Brand, a standalone label, in 2020 aimed to rival Nike's Jordan Brand. In 2022, Curry secured a long-term deal with Under Armour, reportedly worth around $1 billion, extending beyond his playing career.
Apart from Under Armour, Curry's endorsement deals with companies like 2K Sports, JPMorgan Chase, Subway, and others have added an additional $50 million to his fortune. He has also expanded his business portfolio, including a production company and a bourbon line.
While Curry is on track to reach billionaire status, he still trails LeBron, who became the NBA's first active player to achieve billionaire status in 2022. LeBron, with a net worth of $1.2 billion, has amassed his wealth through a combination of on-court earnings and off-court ventures, including his lifetime Nike partnership, SpringHill Entertainment, and his stake in Fenway Sports Group.
