Michael Jordan becomes first athlete to rank among America’s richest people originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Michael Jordan was the first athlete to make the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. According to Forbes, he is now worth an estimated $3 billion.
Jordan, a Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer who helped lead Chicago to six NBA championships, recently sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for an eye-popping $3 billion. That sale in August pushed him into the true 1% and cemented his status as the richest athlete in history.
The sale was the second-highest sale price in NBA history, fetching nearly 17 times the original value when Jordan became majority owner in 2010. Forbes estimates the team is worth $1.7 billion, nearly half of what Jordan was sold for.
Only three athletes in history have surpassed the billion-dollar mark. Jordan was the first to accomplish this feat in 2014. He was followed closely by LeBron James and Tiger Woods, who were still active in their careers at the time.
Jordan’s unprecedented wealth dates back to his days in the NBA. During his 15-year career, Jordan brought in $94 million in earnings, making him the league’s highest-paid player. However, it was his sponsorships with McDonald’s, Gatorade, Hanes and Nike that propelled him into a more elite bracket.
It is estimated that Jordan earned $2.4 billion (before taxes) during his career from sponsorships alone. His latest royalties from Nike cost him $260 million in one year.
From restaurants, car dealerships, sports books and his NASCAR 23XI team, Jordan has plenty of business ahead of him. If you know Jordan’s competitiveness, you know he won’t stop after making the Forbes 400 list.
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