LeBron James has made history yet again. The 18-time NBA All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist has officially become a billionaire while still playing basketball, according to Forbes. He is the first active NBA player to reach this milestone, with Michael Jordan becoming a billionaire more than a decade after he retired.

Forbes estimates that James has a net worth of $1 billion, thanks to more than $1.2 billion in pretax earnings. James has earned more than $385 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers as the highest-paid active player in the NBA. Off the court, he has raked in upwards of $900 million in income from endorsements and other business ventures. James signed his first deal with Nike in 2003, at age 18, and he famously rejected offers from Reebok and Adidas in favor of what he saw as a better long-term partner. After more than a decade of success, he struck a lifetime agreement with Nike in late 2015 that pays him tens of millions annually.

But what sets James apart is his ability to structure deals to give him equity in brands he partners with, giving him a cut of the upside instead of a quick paycheck. In 2015, James walked away from an endorsement agreement with McDonald’s, worth an estimated $15 million over four years, to instead gamble on the fast-growing Blaze Pizza chain, where he’s an investor. He’s also taken equity in brands like smart gym-maker Tonal and ride-share giant Lyft.

James and his business partner Maverick Carter founded SpringHill, a TV and movie production outfit. In October 2021, outside investors, including the Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group and Epic Games, bought into the venture at a $725 million valuation. James, of course, remains the biggest shareholder.

James is estimated to own around 1% of the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, Liverpool FC, and half of Roush Fenway Racing, among other assets. He also owns three properties worth a combined $80 million, including a 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion.

James' investments in Blaze Pizza, SpringHill, and other ventures are worth millions of dollars, and Forbes estimates he has more than $500 million in net assets beyond those investments. James' willingness to invest in up-and-coming brands and to take equity in those brands has paid off handsomely, and his ability to generate income both on and off the court is a testament to his business acumen.

James has publicly expressed his dream of owning an NBA team, and he's well on his way. He already counts pro baseball, soccer, and hockey teams among his holdings, including a minority stake in Liverpool FC. His net worth continues to grow, and with his business acumen and investments, it's likely that he'll continue to make history both on and off the court.