The greatest of all time is a highly debated title that both athletes and musicians need to earn, but these celebrities are so different they can’t be compared.
From basketball star LeBron James to world-famous singer Beyoncé, both have been called the greatest but in different categories.
In theory, both are similar because they perform in front of an audience, practice to perfect their craft and amass a following. With that being said, there are multiple ways to differentiate musicians and athletes.
In a 2016 Odyssey blog post, a website focused on creating an environment that fosters conversations, a writer discusses differences between the ambiance at each event and mentions how sporting events tend to be loud and rowdy, yet it’s the complete opposite at an orchestra concert.
The financial aspect is another noticeable difference between the music and professional sports industries.
According to Forbes’ 2017 highest-paid celebrity list, the top 25 musicians earned around $400 million more than the top athletes. Among the list of top-paid artists were Beyoncé and Drake.
The list also featured professional athletes such as soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo and basketball star Kevin Durant.
Athletes and musicians can’t be compared because celebrities like Beyoncé and James are both popular for different reasons.
Beyoncé has been a part of the music industry for decades.
Her rise to fame began in the ’90s when the girl group Destiny’s Child was formed.
James joined the NBA after he was drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2012 when he led the Miami Heat to the championship, according to biography.com profile.
Despite their vastly different beginnings, Beyoncé and James became household names within society.
Beyoncé has achieved significant accomplishments including a 2013 Super Bowl performance and 24 Grammy awards.
Her 24 Grammy awards is a record only matched by six other musicians, according to a 2021 Billboard article.
James has also had an outstanding career with four championships under his belt.
James became the first member of the Cleveland Cavalier franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award during the 2003-04 season, according to the same biography.com profile.
Both James and Beyoncé have also done exceedingly well financially.
As of October, Beyoncé’s net worth is estimated around $420 million, making her one of the richest singers in the world, according to Forbes.
At the same time, James has a similar net worth of $500 million, according to a 2020 Celebrity Net Worth article.
Both of these celebrities earn the same amount of money, but their occupations require different skills.
Musicians and athletes are both great in their own ways and while they have similar journeys, the way they prepare and practice is extremely different.
Athletes go through extraneous physical training and musicians must exercise their vocal cords.
At the end of the day, they can’t be compared because they both have demanding careers, but are entirely distinct in their own ways.
