NBA stars are among the highest-paid athletes in the world. This has been the case for some time. It allows them to live a luxurious life. As a result, fans often see celebrities showing off their spending habits. From expensive sneakers, clothing, watches, to cars, players won’t hesitate to spend big bucks on a variety of things.
If that’s not enough, some of them also invest their salaries in private jets. This isn’t surprising considering the huge amount of money that comes with being a well-known superstar in the association. Starting with the great Michael Jordan, players have learned how to use their brand off the court to add to their lucrative salaries as players.
According to Sports Brief, there are 22 players with a net worth of at least $100 million. Three of them, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Magic Johnson, are already billionaires. They are among four sports stars who have built empires worth ten figures.
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Top NBA players own private jets
Buying a private jet is one thing, but owning one is a completely different ballgame. Private jets require a lot of maintenance. According to Investopedia, owning a private jet costs between $500,000 and $1 million per year. However, some NBA players are unfazed by the outrageous spending. On that note, let’s take a look at five NBA players who own private jets.
#1 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan made a significant contribution to helping players understand their value off the court. He is the first NBA player to build a 10-figure empire. Jordan, who is now worth $3 billion, purchased a private jet in 2016, according to Simply Flying. Jordan’s aircraft was a Gulfstream G550 jet. It’s worth $61.5 million.
He is a full-time entrepreneur and all of his business ventures are worth millions of dollars. Until August of this year, Jordan owned an NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets. Since MJ travels frequently, purchasing a private jet seems like a good investment for someone with his spending power.
Jordan made sure the jets he owned left his mark in some way. The aircraft is registered as N236MJ and features its iconic jersey number, championship count and initials. MJ’s jets have a range of up to 7,940 miles.
#2 LeBron James
If you’re wondering how LeBron James finds time to watch son Bronny James’ high-profile games and be in time for his own game the next day, we have the answer. LeBron invested $22 million in a Gulfstream G280 private jet to make his busy travel schedule easier.
One of the most interesting things about James owning a private jet is that the four-time MVP has never been unhappy with one of his most expensive assets. He limits his use of it and only makes time for his family. James also used it to teach his children to be humble and not let them fly around in airplanes while he was away. James’ jet has a range of 3,600 miles.
#3 Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is the latest NBA player to join the billionaire club and is known for his vast wealth. The former Los Angeles Lakers superstar has fully embraced the world of business tycoon after learning the tricks of the trade from the late Dr. Jerry Buss. According to Hangar Flights, Johnson earned only $40 million in the NBA but owns a private jet worth $32 million.
Johnson’s plane was a 1982 Gulfstream III. The five-time NBA champion uses the plane for personal and business travel. He dedicated the plane’s livery to the Dodgers and Lakers after they won the 2020 championships. Johnson’s aircraft registration number has the same theme as Michael Jordan’s, featuring his No. 32 jersey and his initials “MJ.” Johnson’s jet has a range of 4,200 miles.
#4 Shaquille O’Neal
It would be even more surprising if Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t on this list. O’Neal has built a $400 million empire with 50 brands. Even as a player, he always had a business mind. This allowed him to live a luxurious life. Part of that is owning a private jet.
According to the “Sun” report, O’Neal spent $27 million this year to purchase a Bombardier Challenger 650. The aircraft’s liver has a shadowed outline of the “Dunkman” logo. In 2010, O’Neal said he would never invest in a private jet due to maintenance reasons, but the “big guy” did a U-turn. The aircraft has a range of 4,000 miles.
#5 Tracy McGrady
Although his net worth is relatively low compared to Michael Jordan and others on this list, Tracy McGrady, who has a $70 million empire, also invested in a private jet . McGrady owns a plane worth $19 million. This is a Dassault Falcon 2000 jet.
According to “Basketball.com”, unlike the other NBA stars mentioned above, McGrady purchased a private jet because he was afraid of flying on advertising planes after the tragedy of 9/11. The aircraft has a personalized registration number associated with its famous nickname “T-Mac 1”. The jet has a range of 3,740 miles.