Adele’s Rumored Boyfriend Rich Paul: 5 Things to Know About the Sports Agent

Credit: MEGA; Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

Adele’s Rumored Boyfriend Rich Paul: 5 Things to Know About the Sports Agent

Basketball diaries! Adele was spotted with Rich Paul during Game 5 of the NBA finals on Saturday, July 17, sparking relationship speculation. The duo were sitting courtside as the Phoenix Suns took on the Milwaukie Bucks at Phoenix’s Footprint Center. The “Rolling in the Deep” singer, 33, was seen interacting with LeBron James’ agent, 39, and the Los Angeles Lakers player, 36, himself, who was in attendance to support friend Chris Paul. “She kept turning her head to talk to Rich and even though you couldn't see her mouth because it was covered with her mask, you could tell she was smiling and laughing,” an eyewitness exclusively tells Us Weekly of the musician’s night out. “She had a blast watching the game. She was very attentive." The Grammy winner and the Ohio native “seemed like they are a new couple that hasn't been dating too long,” according to the insider, noting the pair “seemed comfortable next to each other” as they sat closely at the game. [jwplayer Ih9RGx0Y-l3ahXupL] “She was definitely happy chatting and just being with him at the game,” the source adds. “They would lean into each other to whisper something into their ears and she would laugh." Paul hinted that he was seeing a high-profile musician ahead of his rumored date with Adele at the NBA finals. “She was over yesterday,” the sports agent said in a New Yorker profile published in May, referring to a woman he called a “major pop star.” He later claimed that he is “not dating” anyone, adding, “I’m single.” The British singer, for her part, split from husband Simon Konecki in April 2019 after two years of marriage and nine years as a couple. Their divorce was finalized in March 2021, with the former spouses agreeing to joint custody of their son 8-year-old Angelo. Scroll down to learn more about Adele’s rumored boyfriend: [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Rich Paul/Instagram

He’s From Ohio

Paul was born and raised in Cleveland. When his father was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 1999, Paul transferred from the University of Akron to Cleveland State to be closer to him. After his death, the agent dropped out of school and remained in the area.

Credit: Courtesy of Rich Paul/Instagram

He’s a Sports Agent

The Ohio native started at Creative Artists Agency in 2003 before founding Klutch Sports Group in 2012. He is now the head of United Talent Agency’s sports division. He currently represents six Los Angeles Lakers players, including James and Anthony Davis. Tristan Thompson, Ben Simmons and Jordan Clarkson are also on his roster.

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His Relationship With LeBron James Started in 2002

The duo met in 2002 at the Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. James was only 17 while Paul was 21. They bonded over their love of basketball and Paul’s inventory of vintage sports jerseys, which he sold out of the trunk of his car at the time. After James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he started paying Paul $48,000 per year as an investment in their relationship.

“I have always felt that he had a purpose, and that’s why I kept him around,” James told the New Yorker in May 2021 of his now-agent. “I knew he was going to be something more than even what he thought he could possibly be at the time. It was just a feeling I had.” After working at the Creative Artists Agency under James’ original agent, Leon Rose, Paul created his own agency and took James with him.

Credit: Courtesy of Rich Paul/Instagram

His Net Worth Is $100 Million

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Paul is worth an estimated $100 million. A lot of his income is thanks to Klutch Sports Group. Since its start, Paul as negotiated over $1 billion in total contracts. He launched “Klutch Conversations” in 2020 during the NBA All-Star Weekend alongside SocialWorks and General Mills to encourage financial literacy in youths.

Credit: Courtesy of Rich Paul/Instagram

He’s Always Loved Basketball

“I definitely wanted to be an athlete,” Paul told the New Yorker, noting that he had a “big” heart but was too small to really play professionally. At the age of 12, he recalled shifting his focus to the entrepreneurial side of the game, studying the NBA Western Conference games at night. That dedication led him to be named his basketball league’s MVP, which he later said came from how he was able to “handle myself in the interview, thanking my teammates and so on.”