Michael Jordan is widely considered the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) basketball player. In his illustrious NBA career he won six title with the Chicago Bills and started to accrue wealth.
But his salary from his basketball career only scratched the surface of the wealth he amassed from corporate partnerships, business ventures, and more. Let’s take a closer look at Jordan’s net worth and how he came to be the most wealthy basketball player on the planet.
Michael Jordan's Net Worth
Michael Jordan’s net worth in 2024 is $3.5 billion. According to Forbes, this makes him the wealthiest NBA player of all time and one of the richest men in the world.
The 61-year-old billionaire was not only one of the most talented athletes in the world, but became something of an icon as a financial heavyweight as well. Let’s dive into just how he managed to accrue such an impressive fortune.
How Did Michael Jordan Make His Money?
Michael Jordan’s career started in 1984 when he joined the NBA and continued to play for 15 years. Most notably, he won 6 titles with the Chicago Bills and is largely responsible for popularizing the NBA. Over his 15 years in the league his salary came out to a total of $90 million, but this does not even scratch the surface of his business ventures.
He joined many corporate partnerships through sponsorships that helped him accrue his impressive net worth. Brands like Hanes and Gatorade jumped at the opportunity to work with M.J. but his most notable partnership was that with Nike. He reported more than $1.3 billion from the Nike deal alone.
In 2020 he went on to join the sports-betting app DraftKings as a special advisor to the board. The money he made from this venture is not public as it is unclear the size of his equity in the company. He also became a NASCAR team co-owner in the same year.
Most recently, Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, earning him $3 billion in 2023.
When asked about his impressive wealth, Jordan explains it was a process getting the “Jordan Brand” to where it is today. He told Market Realist, “It’s dots being connected”. In reference to the Nike deal he has become so famous for he explained, “When the shoes were at [their] peak, I played at a high level, and consumers saw that, and it basically authenticated everything about that shoe”.
