Sports

LeBron James

Raised by a 16-year-old single mother in Akron; a $90M endorsement before his first professional game.

Born: 1984 · Akron, Ohio, US
Roots: Black American
Family: Poverty; Born to a 16-year-old single mother; frequent moves and missed school before living with a coach's family at nine.
Education: St. Vincent–St. Mary High School (no college)
Started with: $90M Nike deal; Signed at 18, before his NBA debut.
Affiliations & societies: None documented.; Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1993 · age 9
Moves in with a coach's family
After missing around 100 days of fourth grade amid frequent moves.
2002 · age 17
“The Chosen One”
Sports Illustrated cover while still in high school.
2003 · age 18
Nike deal before debut$90M
2003 · age 18
No. 1 draft pick
Straight from high school, to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
2016 · age 31
Title for Cleveland
Ends the city's 52-year championship drought.
2018 · age 33
I Promise School
Opens a public school for at-risk children in Akron with his foundation.
2022 · age 37
Billionaire status$1B
Per Forbes, the first active NBA player to reach it.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.