Michael Jordan is still making history. The 60-year-old basketball legend became the first athlete to appear on the Forbes 400 list.
For the past 42 years, Forbes has published a list of the top 400 richest people in the United States. This week, they announced their 2023 list. The Basketball Hall of Famer is currently worth an estimated $3 billion and is the first time in history that a professional athlete has made the Forbes 400.
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Jordan’s entry into this scarce financial climate wasn’t just the result of athletic skill. His smart financial investments and lucrative endorsement deals have helped the Brooklyn native become a modern-day Midas touch.
Washington Capitals, Mystics and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, who has worked with the NBA star over the years, said Jordan was a history-maker not only on the court but in the boardroom.
“Michael is one of the few people who has had three successes,” Leonsis told Forbes. “A lot of entrepreneurs, they get it right the first time. They hit it big, take the bonus, retire, and then (we) never hear from them again, or they try something a second time and it doesn’t work out. “He had three huge successes. “
This includes his extraordinary success in the NBA and his licensing deal with Nike, which will bring Jordan $256 million in revenue in 2022 alone.
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It’s rare for a professional athlete to become a billionaire. Jordan became the first person to receive the title in 2014. Professional golfer Tiger Woods and former NBA star LeBron James later joined the exclusive list. Now, Jordan has set another record by becoming the first athlete to make the Forbes 400 list.