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LeBron James Took Nearly $300 Million Loan Before Lakers Move
By Aurax Desk | August 26, 2026 | 2 min read
LeBron James borrowed nearly $300 million through a company he controlled months before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, according to reporting based on insurance records. The transaction was separate from his $154 million Lakers contract and involved insurers advised by a Guggenheim-linked firm.
Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where LeBron James began his Lakers career after signing with the team in 2018.
The loan was arranged through two Midwestern life insurers and was backed by income from James’ business and endorsement interests, according to the Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg reporting cited by other outlets. The transaction was completed before James signed his four-year Lakers contract, giving him access to substantial capital while using future earnings as part of the financial arrangement. The deal highlights the sophisticated financing structures available to athletes with significant long-term commercial income.
The lenders were connected to Guggenheim Partners, whose sports-related business interests included ties to the Lakers during the period surrounding James’ arrival in Los Angeles. Mark Walter, whose investment group was involved with the franchise, is also linked to the financial network involved in the transaction. The loan does not mean James received $300 million from the Lakers or that the money represented his NBA salary; it was a separate private financing arrangement involving one of his companies.
The disclosure comes as James’ broader business interests remain a major part of his financial profile beyond his NBA earnings. His commercial portfolio includes endorsement agreements, investments and other ventures capable of generating substantial future income, which can be used in complex financing arrangements. The reported transaction provides additional insight into how high-value athletes can leverage anticipated business revenue to obtain large amounts of capital without relying solely on conventional sports contracts.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Basketball News, Yardbarker and Reuters.