Sports Athletes, no matter which sports they play, are gods for some of the fans. A lot of sales of a particular brand depend on the person endorsing it. Nothing to take away from the players as they have earned it through the efforts and hard work they have put in. Let us discuss the top 10 athlete Contracts that last a lifetime.
David Beckham got the first lifetime contract in 2003, and Adidas was the brand. When we talk about the lifetime contract of other athletes, LeBron James was the first one to get it from Nike. Later, Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo were on the list, respectively.
Top 10 Athlete Contracts That Last a Lifetime – Endorsements Till They Die
Michael Jordan
He is surely one of the greatest ever basketball players that we have witnessed. Michael Jordan signed his first contract with Nike in 1984. It was the mid-2010s when Michael Jordan got a lifetime deal with Nike worth $1.3 billion.
Jordan receives 25% royalties on Air Jordan sales. The six-time NBA champion has played with teams such as the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It was 2003 when Cristiano Ronaldo signed his first-ever deal with Nike. Thirteen years later, in 2016, Nike gave him a lifetime contract worth somewhere $1 billion. Cristiano Ronaldo has the most goals in football, 938, and is still going strong.
Ronaldo has played for teams such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus. Now he is enjoying his last years in Saudi Arabia, where he changed the football scene with his transfer. Ronaldo is still waiting for the World Cup; next year will be his last chance to win it.
Also Check: Top 5 Impactful Hat-tricks Scored by Cristiano Ronaldo in His Career
LeBron James
He was the first athlete to receive a lifetime contract from Nike, and the year was 2015. LeBron James won the NBA title four times in his career. He has played for teams such as the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2024, it was a moment to remember for him, as he shared the pitch with his son, Bronny James. His deal is worth $1 billion with Nike.
Lionel Messi
Messi started his journey with Nike, but many of them wouldn’t know. It was 2006 when Adidas shook hands with Lionel Messi, and from then on, surely it is no going back for both Messi and Adidas.
Eleven years later, Lionel Messi was provided with a lifetime contract by Adidas worth $1 billion in 2017. The year 2022 was the best for Lionel Messi, as he finally won the FIFA World Cup, and Adidas made a special pair of football cleats for him.
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Steph Curry
He started his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors in 2009, and since then, he has been a loyal servant to the team. In 2013, he signed his first deal with Nike, and ten years later, Steph Curry got a new deal worth a lifetime with Nike.
The worth of his deal is somewhere around $1 billion. Steph Curry, at 37 years old, is still going strong. He has won the NBA four times and also won the Most Valuable Player award twice.
David Beckham
The English footballer has played for teams like AC Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain. David Beckham signed his first Adidas contract in 1996, and just seven years later, in 2003, he was given a lifetime deal with Adidas.
The amount at that time was $160 million. He has won six Premier League titles with Manchester United and also one UEFA Champions League. Apart from football, he was declared the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine.
Allen Iverson
He is a retired basketball player who has played for teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, the Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Allen Iverson has a lifetime contract with the brand Reebok.
He signed a lifetime deal in the year 2001, which gave him a yearly payment of $800,000. The other major part of the deal was that when he turns 55, which is in the year 2030, he will receive $32 million. Allen Iverson won the Most Valuable Player award in 2001.
Dwyane Wade
He started his journey with Li-Ning in 2012. The former basketball point guard received his lifetime contract from Li-Ning in 2018. Dwyane Wade, during his sixteen-year-long career, played for teams such as the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dwyane Wade said goodbye to the game in 2019, where he spent most of his career, with the Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade won the NBA three times.
Andre Agassi
In 1993, Andre Agassi, the tennis star, signed a multi-million-dollar deal with the brand Head. Ten years later, Andre Agassi signed a lifetime deal with them, which includes exclusive lifetime rights to his racket line.
During his career, Andre Agassi has won eight Grand Slam titles and also a gold medal at the 1999 Olympics. He was the world number one for more than a hundred weeks.
Walt Frazier
It was 2018 when Puma gave their first-ever lifetime contract to someone. Walt Frazier, the former basketball player, got the contract in 2018 when he was 73 years old. Walt Frazier had a thirteen-year pro career.
Walt Frazier spent 11 seasons with the New York Knicks, where he helped them win two championships. The New York Knicks still haven’t won any championships.
