2016’s Top Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40 in the U.S.: Kobe and LeBron on the List

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On December 14th, Beijing time, Forbes in the United States listed the richest entrepreneurs under 40 years old in the U.S. for 2016; two NBA players were on that list. Kobe Bryant, who retired this year, ranked 33rd with a net worth of $350 million, while the star player for the Cavaliers, LeBron James, ranked 39th with a net worth of $275 million. This was the first time that James made it into the top 40 of this list. 　　This list features the youngest outstanding figures from various industries in the United States. This year, the person with the highest net worth is Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, whose wealth amounts to 50 billion dollars. 　　Kobe, who retired this year, has always been one of the NBA’s most commercially valuable players. After retiring, Kobe ventured into various fields and was very successful in investing. Meanwhile, James’ pace of advancement is extremely rapid. According to Forbes’ list of the richest U.S. entrepreneurs under 40 in 2016, James made his debut on that list, ranking 39th with a net worth of $275 million. 　　According to statistics, since joining the NBA in 2003, James’s total earnings (NBA salary + endorsement fees) have reached $595 million. Although James’ rookie contract is only 4 years and $18.8 million, he had already signed a hefty 7-year deal worth $90 million with Nike back in high school. 　　Over the past year, James has achieved even greater success. At the end of last year, he secured the largest contract in Nike’s 44-year history, reportedly worth over $1 billion. This summer, James extended his contract with the Cavaliers for 3 years and $100 million, making him the third player after Jordan and Kobe to earn an annual salary of $30 million. 　　Furthermore, James has made many successful investments outside of basketball, which has made him the highest-earning player in the NBA. 　　It is foreseeable that James’s net worth will continue to soar in the coming years.