Not content with being a seven-time world champion in the NFL, Tom Brady found another sport to dominate.
The New England Patriots legend is worth over $530 million per Forbes, and his 10-year, $375 million FOX Sports deal means there is plenty of money to go around.
Brady decided to enter the exciting new world of E1 — an all-electric power boat series with races all over the globe.
His Team Brady outfit won the inaugural E1 World Championship against the likes of tennis great Rafael Nadal and Hollywood star Will Smith.
But now he is coming up against a new foe with even deeper pockets in four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has an estimated net worth of over $1.2 billion, making even Brady — who wore a $740k watch during his Super Bowl broadcast debut — look poor by comparison.
King James’ Team AlUla was announced in January ahead of the new season beginning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The boats are piloted by men and women taken from Formula 1, rallying and powerboating.
Electric engines produce 200 horesepower and can propel the crafts at up to 58 miles per hour.
James’ team qualified second behind Team Brady on its debut but finished behind a crew led by American DJ Steve Aoki in the race.
Brady and LeBron finished second and third, respectively.
Doha, Qatar, is up next on February 21 and 22 — the second leg of the eight-race series, which finishes in Miami in November.
Tennis great Rafael Nadal has praised the Saudi-backed sport’s efforts in sustainability after getting involved in 2023, hoping it could provide a better future.
“I’m really excited to be getting involved with a project like E1 that values sustainability and will make a positive impact on society as a whole, especially in coastal communities,” he said.
“I also like the fact that E1 has a clear mission and is committed to preserving marine ecosystems. As a professional athlete, I recognize how making marginal gains has a positive impact on performance.”
Brady, meanwhile, has a title to defend.
“It feels amazing to win the first E1 World Championship,” he said after continuing his winning streak on water.
“I’m proud of the team and what we’ve accomplished. Competition is exciting for us, and life is about making memories and relationships, and I think what we’ve established in terms of our teamwork has been one of the most gratifying parts.
“Our Team Principals Ben [King] and Joe [Sturdy] led the way and solved a lot of problems. I was able to witness the way they handled the different adversities that we were facing throughout the season, it was great to see.
“Obviously our two pilots, Sam and Emma, how they played off each other, their chemistry and the camaraderie of the whole team was on full display.”
While fans would love to see Brady and LeBron face off one-on-one in an NFL-NBA hybrid, the closest we may come is their teams bidding to rule the waves.
