Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
The helicopter LeBron has been using is owned by Fanatics
LeBron James has been commuting between New York City and Philadelphia by helicopter since signing with the 76ers. It turns out the chopper comes courtesy of Fanatics.
According to reports, LeBron James has been using a Fanatics helicopter to travel between New York City, where he lives, and Philadelphia, where he plays for the 76ers, with flight records showing about a dozen round trips in the past week.
LeBron James has been commuting between New York City and Philadelphia on a Fanatics helicopter that is part of his endorsement deal
Speaking to Front Office Sports, a spokesperson for LeBron said: “The deal we signed with Fanatics almost three years ago includes access to their corporate aviation.”
“It’s a feature in many of their deals with their largest athletes, and we appreciate their partnership as LeBron splits his time between New York and Philadelphia,” the spokesperson continued.
Comparable helicopter trips typically cost $4,000 to $10,000 one way — if each trip were to cost, on average, $7,000, the value of LeBron’s weekly commutes is about $168,000.
One viral reaction to the news sarcastically wondered why the Clippers never gave their players comparable perks, a nod to the Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration saga, which ended with penalties for the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer.
Michael Rubin, the founder and CEO of Fanatics, is also a former minority shareholder of the Philadelphia 76ers and a personal friend of LeBron’s (Rubin is inexplicably friends with seemingly every celebrity in existence and took over the role of throwing yearly “white parties” from Diddy).
“paying LeBron the veteran minimum but a former minority shareholder/friend of the owner is giving LeBron unlimited access to a branded helicopter”
man the Clippers didn’t even TRY
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) October 5, 2026
Fanatics isn’t the only company with an arm in sports betting that LeBron has a deal with, as his endorsement payments now dwarf his NBA salary — FOS reported Polymarket is paying him $15 million a year, nearly four times his roughly $3.9 million 76ers salary.
Unbearably cringe end to his career.
— Ann Larson (@AnnLLarson) October 5, 2026
While NBA rules let players endorse betting companies but not bet on NBA events, the deal comes as New York sued Polymarket over alleged illegal gambling.