“Making 200 million at the age of 22 is not considered rich.”

Rich Paul (41), owner Krach Sports Groupis one of the most influential agents in the NBA. on the list Forbes One of the most powerful agents in world sports, he built his empire in large part thanks to the personal relationship he developed with LeBron James, a cornerstone of a program that also includes Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, Darius Garland, Aaron Gordon, Zach LaVine, Trae Young and Fred VanVlee Special class.Its reach extends to the NFL, a total of Its clients’ payroll will exceed $500 million in the 2023-24 season alone.According to data, only on the first day of free agency last summer ring typethey signed a contract worth 390 million.

Rich Paul came from humble beginnings and worked hard to make sure the players he represented stayed grounded. At least as much as possible within the luxury bubble of American professional sports. In a video that has gone viral in recent days, he explains that his goal is to make these new millionaires understand that they shouldn’t always travel on private jets and, This seems odd considering the numbers they’re dealing with, but they probably don’t have as much money as they think.

“I have people who are probably 22 years old and they’re going to make $200 million in four or five years. I’ve got a few of them. But The reality is I have to keep telling them it’s not a lot of money.Because they have to see where they start, start from scratch. Most people don’t play ball until they’re 40, never older than 33. There is tax, they pay up to 55% tax. Another example is that the jeans they like cost two thousand dollars. They bought more than they needed. It’s not just 25 yuan, there is still a difference. Everything is relative. No athlete can always afford to travel on a private jet. But on Instagram you see a lot of people doing it.Me and deltaI can’t afford a private jet, but this way I’ll be fine. I travel to go where I can make money, not to spend money along the way.“.

LeBron James right hand

Rich Paul defines his relationship with LeBron James as “fateful.” They met on a plane from Akron-Canton to Atlanta during the 2002 Final Four. LeBron wearing a Michael Vick jersey (then) quarterback

Falcons) and Paul were one year back when Warren Moon was playing for the Houston Oilers. A gem caught LeBron’s attention. Paul sold T-shirts that he had purchased in Atlanta, Ohio. He gave him his phone number and then sold him two T-shirts. vintage: Joe Namath’s…and Magic Johnson’s. Within a few months, they became close. One year later, guys.Soon after, Paul was working for CAA (creative artist agency), the company that negotiated LeBron’s first contract extension (in 2006) with the Cavaliers. In 2012, he became independent Krach Sports.

In Paul, LeBron found a survivor filled with ideas, energy and the ability to sell a vision that always involved leaving his rough childhood in Glenville, east of Cleveland, behind, Jerry West This is the community that Geer and Joe Shuster originally envisioned. Superman. There, Rich Paul grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment above his father’s store, which opened at 6:30 every morning and sold milk and bread and stamped lottery tickets. as a child, I’m just going to travel city ​​center Eat dollar hot dogs on the bus from Cleveland. In 1999, his father died of cancer. Three years later, he met LeBron, then 21 and the future best player in the world, 17.

LeBron was quickly attracted to Paul’s initiative in the sports jersey business. High qualityhe started selling the stuff out of the back of his van and found success by contacting players, asking celebrities to take them, including businessmen with no other weapons than the power of belief… Soon he was buying T-shirts for $160 and selling them for $300, making $15,000 a week… Even though he and LeBron spent a lot of time together, they went through difficult childhoods together, had many dreams for the future, almost all of which came true, and an obvious passion for basketball that continues to this day.