LeBron James' business partner confirms lifetime deal with Nike is worth over $1 billion

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LeBron James

Alex Gallardo/AP

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When LeBron James and Nike inked a lifetime endorsement deal at the end of 2015, the terms of the deal were never reported.

We always knew that it would be a big number. Not only had Nike never agreed to a lifetime deal before, but at the time of the news ESPN's Darren Rovell (who first broke the story) also reported that James' new deal would "easily surpass" the 10-year, $300 million deal Kevin Durant signed with Nike in 2014.

This led to speculation that the number attached to the deal could be north of $30 million per year. Over the remainder of James' life, this would put the figure in the ballpark of $1 billion.

On Tuesday, Maverick Carter - James' longtime business partner - appeared to tell GQ that the figure was, in fact, north of $1 billion.

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In an exchange with GQ writer Mark Anthony Green, Carter said he wouldn't give the exact figure. But when Green pushes and says he'd heard $1 billion, Carter coyly says nothing. But his gesture gives it away.

Here's the exchange:

How much was the deal for?

I can't say.

Come on, Mav! Can you ballpark it?

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What are people saying?

Kanye said a billion. So a billion.

[Maverick smiles and points one finger skyward.]

Holy sh*t.

Yeah. It's a fantastic deal. Nike feels great about the deal. That's the most important thing. As great as I feel, as great as LeBron feels-Nike feels fantastic about it. It's the largest deal in the history of the company. Their hope is he makes even more. And our hope is that, too, obviously.

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This isn't the first time we've heard $1 billion attached to James and Nike. But it's certainly the closest thing we've gotten to confirmation, and from James' oldest friend, too.

James has already made $169 million in salaries, and reportedly makes around $44 million annually in endorsements. With the behemoth Nike deal, James is well on his way to becoming the richest athlete of all-time.