Longtime besties Savannah James, wife of NBA superstar LeBron James, and entrepreneur April McDaniel have the internet talking about their very different lifestyles when it comes to money and travel, sparking a first-class flight debate; and now, someone from their friend group is flying in with a first-class defense.
On the latest episode of Boardroom’sMental Wealth podcast, James and McDaniel sat down with Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman and Jack Howard, head of Money Wellness at Ally Bank, for an honest conversation about finances, entrepreneurship, self-worth, and motherhood.
Savannah James & April McDaniel’s first class flight debate: What happened?
During the Sept. 28 episode, Howard asked the longtime friends and business partners how money factors into their friendship. McDaniel acknowledged that while their lifestyles may look very different, the two have found a way to make it work – especially when they travel together.
“We talk about this a lot because there’s two different lifestyles that exist. Like we’re not delusional to that. And I think Savannah has accommodated where I’m at,” McDaniel, who owns the buzzing creative agency Crown + Conquer, shared around the four-minute mark of the episode.
McDaniel explained that if James wants to plan a trip, they make sure she has enough time to prepare financially.
“We’re planning out. Like, we don’t just show up at Fashion Week week-of. We don’t move like that even though people think we do,” she continued. “If we’re going on the same trip, I don’t feel the need to be in first [class] because that’s not in my budget,” McDaniel added.
But apparently, some Everybody’s Crazy viewers had plenty to say about their travel arrangements. When the topic came up on their show, McDaniel recalled people being “critical” of James flying first class while she traveled business class — though she joked that she occasionally makes her way into James’ seat to hang out and watch movies.
“They were like offended and I was like why? I can’t afford first,” she said looking baffled.
As for whether James ever feels obligated to pay for a first-class ticket for her best friend, the answer was a firm no.
“My friends are very respectful of my situation. Okay. All of them. Like I’ve never had a instance like that one time. If we’re going somewhere, they already understand what it is. There’s no expectation of like taking care of something or, you know, just having me be responsible for them. It has never ever been that.”
McDaniel also believes social media has seriously distorted people’s perception of what normal spending looks like.
“I think that is a very real thing. And also just life expectations. Like does everybody fly first? That’s ridiculous to me. Like someone said to me the other day like, ‘Oh, you’re going to New York. You’re going commercial.’ I said, ‘Are you okay? Are you okay?’ I was like, ‘Commercial? Yes. I got two kids. I’ve been making them fly in coach, like that’s not my vibe.”
”I just think it’s so many misconceptions with social media around money and what things cost — and that’s not reality. And I think people have gotten so accustomed to fast money, and when you have to earn it, I feel like you do treat it differently. And I think it’s really important for people to realize it’s OK to be normal.”
Social media users sound off about the Savannah James first-class flight debate.
Of course, James could certainly afford to upgrade her bestie if she wanted to. The entrepreneur, who has been married to LeBron James since 2013, is the founder of Reframe Beauty and has an estimated net worth of $100 million on her own, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Meanwhile, LeBron became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status in 2022, and Forbes currently estimates his fortune at $1.4 billion.
Still, the internet had plenty of opinions about James flying first class while McDaniel traveled business — with some questioning why she didn’t simply foot the bill for an upgrade.
A social media user named @EveryBodyHateKrissy said:
“What’s the point of being a WAG if your friends gotta ride in the back?”
In a Reddit thread about the conversation, one user wrote:
“What’s the point of being a billionaire if you won’t even be generous with the people closest to you?”
Another added:
“Aside from [being] her friend it’s also her business partner. That’s messed up. I would never do that to someone even if we fly a lot. You know her friend had to be salty internally.”
But Savannah has her defenders, including social media personality and longtime friend Icon Billingsley, who pushed back against the criticism on X.
“THIS IS A SAVANNAH JAMES SUPPORTER & REAL LIFE FRIEND ACCOUNT none of y’all know her, her heart, her intentions or the actual dynamic of anything have your discourse but know that the NEGATIVE things y’all spewing ain’t true,” he wrote in an X post shared Sept. 30.
In a follow-up post, Billingsley shared a photo that appeared to show him flying on a private jet with James, McDaniel, and several other friends.
“And if u threw a party and invited everyone you knew. u would see the biggest gift would be from me & the card attached would say… real ones know the rest.”
Comedian Shuler King also sided with April’s decision, calling her “smart” and “a real friend.”
“Ain’t nobody entitled to nobody else’s money,” he added in his YouTube video shared Wednesday. “Take your a** into the damn back of the plane. If you know your husband ain’t in the NBA and you ain’t got millions of dollars like them people, ain’t no point in you trying to ride with them.”
What do you think? Is Savannah James wrong here? Sound off in the comments section.
