What names spring to your mind when you hear the term, “Billionaire”? Probably the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Bill Gates. These individuals are among the richest in the world, and are considered household names because of their immense wealth and fortunes.
A lesser known fact however is that there are thousands of billionaires alive today, over 2,600 people are known to possess at least $1 billion USD. In 2023, there were 148 new members to join the small list of billionaires today.
In this article, we’ll cover some of the more influential and popular names to join the billionaire club in 2023. From the basketball superstar, Lebron James, to music icon Jimmy Buffet, we’re going to be covering three of the newest billionaires.
Despite there being 2,600 billionaires in the world, which may seem like a large number, it represents an incredibly small fraction of our world population — 0.00003%. Additionally, the vast majority of those billionaires are not new billionaires in 2023, such as this individual, for example.
Without further ado, let’s jump into three of the more popular and influential billionaires that got their names on the list of billionaires in 2023.
1. Lebron James
Lebron James has become the second professional basketball player to become a billionaire, behind Michael Jordan’s $2.2 billion. However, Lebron James has reached this milestone much earlier in his career compared to Jordan, who first became a billionaire in 2014 — 11 years after retirement. Whereas Lebron James is still playing professional basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
This makes him the third-highest-earning professional athlete who has not retired, and the sixth overall. Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods are reported to have earned more money during their athletic careers, according to this chart by Sportico.
In addition to a very handsome salary, most recently being a two-year contract at $99 million USD, Lebron James has made a substantial amount of money through partnership and endorsement deals.
Most notably, Lebron James has signed a lifetime contract with Nike that is estimated to be worth $1 billion USD alone.
Additionally, his association with Coca-Cola, especially through brands like Sprite, has contributed to his financial well-being. LeBron’s appearances in Coca-Cola’s advertising campaigns have undoubtedly boosted his income.
Beats by Dre is another significant partnership for LeBron. Being a part of the Beats brand, a subsidiary of Apple, has opened up opportunities for him to endorse high-quality headphones and be a prominent figure in their marketing efforts.
Blaze Pizza is not just another endorsement; it’s an investment. LeBron’s involvement in the business as both an investor and spokesperson has been a smart move. The chain’s rapid growth is, in part, attributed to his association with it. Looking at an article from The Wolf of Franchises, Lebron’s stake in Blaze Pizza was worth $1 million in 2012. Today, it is estimated to be $35 to $40 million USD. While exact earnings from this venture may not be publicly disclosed, it’s safe to assume that it’s a lucrative deal.
LIFEWTR is yet another example of LeBron’s broad reach. Partnering with premium brands like PepsiCo’s LIFEWTR has likely added to his financial portfolio.
In a league of his own, LeBron James has not only conquered the basketball court but also ascended to the elite ranks of billionaires.
Next up, we’re going to be going over how Jimmy Buffet became a billionaire just months before his passing a few weeks ago in early September.
2. Jimmy Buffet
Jimmy Buffet is most well known for his hit songs, ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’ and ‘Margaritaville’. He would become a billionaire in April of 2023, just five months before he passed away in September of 2023. His achievement represents his remarkable career as a musician and how his songs truly are timeless and can be enjoyed by generations.
So, how did Jimmy Buffet make $1 billion while so many other popular musicians have not been able to? Well, Buffett’s fortune comes from more than just ticket sales and royalties on his songs.
Jimmy Buffett masterfully turned his relaxed, beachcomber persona into a thriving business. The Margaritaville brand, which includes restaurants, hotels, casinos, and merchandise, became synonymous with the laid-back, tropical lifestyle that Buffett himself embodied. According to this variety article from 2018, the business was bringing in $1.5 to $2 billion USD annually. Buffet reportedly had a 28% stake in the company at the time of his death, among many other holdings.
Warren Buffett, who shares the last name of Jimmy Buffett though the two are not related, became friends with Jimmy in the 1980s, when Jimmy would acquire a stake in Berkshire Hathaway. We can only guess at how much he invested, and how much that stake is worth today, but it certainly played a large part in helping Jimmy Buffet reach a networth of $1 billion.
3. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods also reached the billion dollar milestone in 2023, with a networth of $1.1 billion USD according to Forbes. The golfing legend has made his fortune similar to how Lebron James made his, through a series of major endorsement deals with brands such as NIke, Buick, and Rolex. Additionally, Tiger Woods has his own company which specialties in golf course design and construction worldwide.
However, Tiger Woods’s journey was not without its challenges. In 2009, a highly publicized personal scandal temporarily derailed his career and public image. Nevertheless, his remarkable comeback in recent years, including a memorable victory at the 2019 Masters Tournament, added to his legacy and rekindled his marketability.
Closing It Out
We hope you enjoyed reading this article on three relatively popular and influential people that have reached the $1 billion dollar milestone. Whether or not you are fan of these individuals or not, it is always fascinating to hear about celebrities who manage to turn their fame into a true fortune.
