Michael Jordan’s shoe and apparel collections with Nike are iconic in basketball and pop culture. Because of this, NBA fans were quick to push back against comments comparing Jordan to another big-name Nike athlete.
Outside of basketball, Tiger Woods is one of the most notable figures to have struck a deal with Nike. As another top athlete of the past 25 years, a reporter tried to praise both Woods and Jordan. Jordan is said to be the company’s most iconic athlete, but Woods is their best advertiser.
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NBA fans were quick to voice their opinions. They believe Michael Jordan is the best thing about Nike, and without “his aura,” Woods wouldn’t have the platform he does.
It’s worth noting that the company was in two very different positions when these athletes signed the deal. In 1984, Nike was new to the industry when it signed Michael Jordan. At that time, he had just been selected by the Chicago Bulls and was ready to start his NBA journey. Nike invested in the young prospect and he remains a fan of the brand to this day.
As for Tiger Woods, he didn’t sign a contract with Nike until 12 years later. By this point, the company had established a firm foothold in the industry. Largely because Jordan has become a well-known figure in sports and pop culture.
Who makes more money from Nike, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods?
As most NBA fans would say, Michael Jordan should be considered Nike’s top athlete and advertiser. While Tiger Woods may have signed a bigger deal from the start, the six-time champion still brings in a ton of money for the company every year.
Long after his career ended, Jordan Brand remained popular among basketball fans. In 2022, he is believed to have earned $256 million from product sales. To put that into perspective, that’s almost three times what he did with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.
In total, Woods made about $500 million from Nike. Meanwhile, MJ’s revenue is approaching $1.5 billion. This huge gap is a testament to what a great athlete and seller of the brand he is.
When discussing their stance with Nike, look no further than their current situation. Earlier this week, Woods and Nike announced they were parting ways after a 27-year relationship. That said, Jordan’s relationship with the company was so good that both parties agreed to a lifetime contract. The only other athletes to have such a deal with Nike are LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
In terms of volume and peak time, it’s hard to say that any athlete can be on the same level as Jordan.