Lebron "Billy" James

Now that the Cavs have gotten swept out of the Finals, Lebron can get on to the business of becoming the first billionaire athlete. And he and The Four Horsemen p/k/a LRMR have been turning the game upside down in their quest to make it happen.

Since they "replaced" James' original agents, they've been making nothing but power moves . Just in the last year they've created a Marketing Summit("2-days of examining the changing sports marketing landscape and shaping its future."), Bought stake in Cannondale bikes, and sought the advice of "The Oracle of Omaha " Warren Buffet, the world's second richest man.


Lebron's Manager/Friend from High School , Maverick Carter Says:

"It's impossible to get to a billion dollars by endorsement deals," said Carter. "The biggest deals only take you so far. It's how you make money when you're asleep that's going to get you there."

CNNMoney.com says:

I'm sure everyone who talks about sports being too much about money can point to James' billion-dollar target as Exhibit A of that concern. But frankly that's more about the critics' envy than anything else.

No one objects when NBA owners use their investments to become rich at a young age, as Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban or Microsoft co-founder and Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen did. And I doubt there was much criticism when Ty Cobb used a savvy investment in Coke early in the 20th century to become very rich after his playing days.

The fact that James is looking to follow the same course to success while he works to make money for his team, his league and his sponsors shows that he's a pretty smart 22-year old, someone to be admired, not scorned.