LeBron James shares the $5.2 million item he has safely stored away just in case he ever faces tough times.
LeBron James has shared that he has a backup plan just in case he ever loses everything—and it involves a couple of very rare items.
Everyone knows LeBron has made a lot of money throughout his amazing career. As a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and record-holder, he’s not only one of the greatest players ever but also one of the richest. Forbes estimates his net worth to be around $1.4 billion, putting him ahead of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Even with all his success, LeBron is smart enough to prepare for tough times. He revealed he keeps “one or two” of his valuable rookie cards locked away in a vault. “I think my rookie card sold for the most, but I heard it’s crazy. I happen to maybe have one or two of those cards locked in a vault somewhere,” he said. “So, just in case I ever fall on hard times, I’m good.”
Back in 2021, one lucky fan sold a LeBron rookie card for an unbelievable $5.2 million. That price has probably gone up a lot since then. After fees and taxes, the buyer actually paid $6.4 million, meaning if LeBron has even one or two of those cards, they could be worth over £7 million—definitely a solid safety net.
Plus, LeBron owning and verifying these cards would make them even more valuable, so he’s sitting on a fortune many people only dream of.
Even so, LeBron’s rookie card isn’t the most expensive sports card ever. That record belongs to a card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, which sold for a jaw-dropping $12.9 million in August 2025. That price set a new world record for the most expensive sports trading card sold at auction, more than doubling the expected amount.
LeBron does make two spots in the top six most expensive sports cards, though. His rookie card is sixth, and another card featuring both his and Jordan’s autographs ranks third after selling for $10 million.
So, while LeBron’s rookie card isn’t the most expensive, it’s still worth a fortune—and it’s part of his clever emergency plan just in case things don’t go as planned.