LeBron James technically does not need any extra money for winning a gold medal.
The King of the NBA has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion and is set to make $48.7 million with the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
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Noah Lyles can buy a new Yu-Gi-Oh! card with a gold medal bonusCredit: Getty
So James receiving a $37,500 bonus for winning gold with Team USA men’s basketball — the standard amount for every American athlete who wins gold, via the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee — wouldn’t add much to his personal coffer.
But for lesser-known athletes, winning gold is everything — physically, mentally and financially.
Even US track and field stars Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone could greatly benefit for every $37,500 gold medal bonus.
If it’s up to former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad “OchoCinco” Johnson, the USA speedsters could earn even more by reaching the top of the podium during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Sharpe and Johnson recently said on their Nightcap podcast that they will each give US tracksters an extra $25,000 if someone wins gold in the Olympics.
“Noah Lyles, if you win the 100 meter gold, me and Ocho $25,000 apiece,” Sharpe said.
The gold reward will be doubled if a world record is achieved.
“I pay $50,000 to any American who breaks a world record,” said Sharpe, who regularly appears on ESPN’s FirstTake and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I don’t give a d*** what the event is,” Sharpe said. “Out of my pocket.”
As Sharpe and Johnson raised the volume, they sounded like used-car salesmen offering huge discounts to get more bidders.
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Shannon Sharpe is ready to put his own money downCredit: x@NightcapShow_
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Sharpe believes that Team USA stars deserve more cash for their goldsCredit: x@NightcapShow_
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Chad Johnson backed Sharpe’s big talk by showing off a large wad of cashCredit: x@NightcapShow_
But they were actually trying to create more gold medals for Team USA, which entered Tuesday leading the world with 20 total medals.
The United States was just sixth in golds, though, with three first-place finishes.
Japan was first (six), while France, China, Australia and South Korea all had five golds.
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Team USA should scoop up more golds in the coming days, with track and field, and men’s and women’s basketball finals still to come.
“Sometimes you need a little motivation, right?” Johnson said.
Then he held up a tight stack of $50,000 for the camera.
“You know I don’t like to spend money,” the former NFL star wide receiver said.
Lyles does not lack in the confidence department as he revealed in London at the Diamond League event a week before the Games started.
“I’m going to win, it’s what I always do. I’m getting faster every week,” the man who actually set a PB of 9.81 seconds said.
“I could have had a better start. I’ve been having a lot better starts in practice,” Lyles added. “I wanted to drop under 9.80, but I’ll take a PB every day of the week.”
Hong Kong is offering a whopping $768,000 for a single gold medal in the 2024 Summer Games.
Israel will reward a gold with $275,000, while Serbia answers first place with $218,000.
Anthony Edwards tried to help Team USA win a table tennis gold by cheering from the stands.
James and Team USA resume Olympic action on Wednesday against South Sudan, who almost pulled off a huge upset in London.
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