PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James will earn $15 million per year from his endorsement deal with Polymarket, significantly more than his two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. James will make $3.9 million with the Sixers during the 2026-27 season, less than one-third of his annual Polymarket earnings, after playing this season on a $52.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James is not an investor in Polymarket and will serve only as an endorser under the agreement, one source said. The deal's length remains unclear, though it reportedly involves an "ongoing engagement" with multiple deliverables, including social media posts and other content. His promotional work for the platform will focus on football rather than basketball.
Derek Jeter and Eli Manning, who appeared alongside James in Polymarket's commercial, are reportedly earning smaller endorsement amounts under their own deals. The ad also featured Spike Lee, Reggie Bush and Alexandra Daddario, though it remains unclear which participants have long-term agreements versus one-time payments.
Prediction-market platforms have ramped up marketing efforts as football season begins, with rival platform Kalshi recently releasing a commercial featuring Marshawn Lynch and counting Giannis Antetokounmpo among its athlete investors. The industry continues to face legal scrutiny, including lawsuits from multiple state attorneys general and Native American tribes over its regulatory classification. Polymarket is backed by the New York Stock Exchange's parent company and Donald Trump Jr.'s investment firm, 1789 Capital.