Let me start by throwing a nice big "allegedly" on this story, because honestly, we have no idea as to how true (or false) it really is. Now that that's done, Cleveland Scene tells the tale of LeBron James running up a huge tab at a swanky steak joint, and keeping the staff there until 3:45 in the morning -- only to leave an embarrassingly small tip in return. The particulars:
It went down like this: LeBron pulls up in his Mercedes outside XO. ... On this special occasion, the King decides to dine late. He keeps his group there until around 3:45 a.m. During this time the waiter obsequiously pours drinks and fetches anything else His Greatness needs.
The final bill comes to $800. By the feudal laws of decorum, which stipulate that the affluent should administer a 20 percent gratuity, staffers figured they'd be pocketing an extra $160. But when they fetched the autographed bill after His Heinousness bolted back to Akron, their expectation turned to disbelief, then anger.
LeBron stiffed them with a meager $10 tip
I can only think of a couple of reasons how or why LeBron might have done this. The story does mention that drinks were flowing at this particular dinner, so maybe LeBron had more than his share and meant to drop an extra zero or two at the end of the $10, but was simply too, uh, [tired] to do so.
Or perhaps (and this is pure speculation) LeBron has been getting hit for substantial losses at his in-home casino. If that's the case, then he probably needs to save as many pennies as he can, even if it's at the expense of the hard-working restaurant employes in the city of Cleveland.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Sounds skeptical. I want to see a credit card receipt!
My friend was working at a Red Lobster in central NJ one time, and all of the other waiters and waitresses said to him "You're gonna get a huge tip tonight, that's Rah Digga from the Flipmode Squad! Needless to say, the bill was like $80 or so, and I think she left him $3..... 4% (rounded up)
Posted at 3:17PM on May 8th 2008 by Rick
2. If he were with a large group, the restaurant should have automatically added gratuity. The $10 could easily have been something above and beyond that.
Or the entire story could be BS.
Or the entire story could be true.
I guess I don't really care.
Posted at 3:52PM on May 8th 2008 by petejayhawk
3. And also, doesn't $800 seem way low for a group of people eating and drinking until 345a in a swanky steak joint?
Posted at 3:55PM on May 8th 2008 by petejayhawk
4. Keep in mind that two or three bucks from that tip go to the dishwashers and food runners that were likely working five hours later than scheduled.
If it is true ... what a turd.
Posted at 4:24PM on May 8th 2008 by KD
5. This guy is a freakin' multi-millionaire. Could he at least tip like it?
Posted at 4:47PM on May 8th 2008 by tom
6. I'm not one to try and crude reinforce stereotypes, but Vegas business complained pretty loudly about how nobody tipped during NBA All-Star weekend despite $5,000+ tabs... this stuff isn't unheard of by any means.
Posted at 5:23PM on May 8th 2008 by August West
7. Ask anyone in the service industry about how black people tip. They don't. Why do you think black people can never catch a cab? It's not because of race, think about the races of your typical taxi drivers, it's tips plain and simple. Now as to the reason that this is the way it is? I don't know that.
Posted at 5:42PM on May 8th 2008 by Gern Wormstead
8. "We have no idea as to how true (or false) it really is..." But we'll publish it anyway. Isn't this exactly the kind of gossipy innuendo that feeds the whole "blogging is evil" hysteria in the larger media world? Just sayin'
Posted at 5:43PM on May 8th 2008 by Furioso
9. It's a known fact that those with money are not good tippers, they are used to be waited on hand and foot. As for that comment about blacks don't tip, that's a crock. I've been a waiter for over 30 years and have served many blacks as well as whites, wealthy and poor folks are treated the same but blacks were my biggest tippers, I'm white and not a youngster.
Posted at 6:06PM on May 8th 2008 by Jay
10. I worked in the food service industry briefly while I was in college. What I noticed in tip trends were that Asians tipped the most, Whites second, Spanish third, and Blacks last. Granted my biggest tip was from a black female for $100 but overall that's what I observed personally.
Posted at 6:39PM on May 8th 2008 by REF
11. If it is true, maybe it was the staffs fault. I run a pizza parlor in Phoenix and the players come in and they tip big if you do not make a big deal over them and do not ask for a 100 autographs etc. You respect their space and they will respect you in most instances.
Posted at 6:41PM on May 8th 2008 by the cooker
12. Its well known he's a total d*ck.
You could be a 10 year old girl and catch LeBron totally alone doing nothing and he still wouldn't sign an autograph for you.
Total A-Hole, and #8 makes a good point too.
Posted at 6:48PM on May 8th 2008 by Lakergregg
13. Nah....My kid worked in St.Pete Fl while in college at a very
high-end hotel and would always tell me stories about most pro
athletes being the cheapest of them all, almost as if they had a
sense of entitlement. Any race. He said their wives were even
worse.... He would also always politely ask other patrons if they
were on vacation and where they were from. If they said Canada, he
automatically added a 20% gratuity to their bill prior to presenting
to the customer, and was only challenged one or two times.
Posted at 7:03PM on May 8th 2008 by Jay
14. koni, what did LeBron do here to be labeled as thug? Did he shoot someone? And if the NBA is the national thug league, then what the NFL should be called, considering countless players were arrested in the past few months (especially last month)? At least no one got arrested here. LeBron didn't get arrested.
Posted at 9:01PM on May 8th 2008 by NBA fan
15. Jay, you're lying.
Posted at 10:13PM on May 8th 2008 by Gern Wormstead
16. I am a waitress in LA and was in Manhatten as well. I have waited on a lot of famous people and most of them are good/great tippers, but some of them are cheap as hell. It's not just the cheap that bothers me (as a waitress you get used to it) but the fact that they demand extra special service and then don't tip accordingly. If this story is true, he should be ashamed of himself.
Posted at 10:44PM on May 8th 2008 by anny
17. Has this Elvis Presley knockoff ever heard of the saying "It is better to give than to receive." If it is true that he is a cheapskate then he should remember that he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But then let us get both sides of the story before Donna Summer sings "She Works Hard For The Money" at the next sporting event.
Posted at 11:57PM on May 8th 2008 by George B Vieto
18. j-rich came into pf changs a week after signing a 50 million contract and tipped me 10 percent
Posted at 3:11AM on May 9th 2008 by matt
19. stevie wonder and mr. belding both tipped 20, alton from the real world...15 percent
Posted at 3:12AM on May 9th 2008 by matt
20. All of the NBA players do this all of the time they never tip unless they are in a strip club then they tip like crazy they should call the NBA the national thug league because thats what the are no tipping thugs. http://www.chatlinegirl.info
Posted at 9:45AM on May 9th 2008 by koni