Michael Jordan, renowned as the epitome of basketball excellence, has not only set the gold standard on the court but has now become the benchmark for athletes' net worth. According to Justin Birnbaum of Forbes, Jordan has made history by becoming the first athlete to be included in the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest people in the United States. This achievement was largely propelled by his sale of the Charlotte Hornets, which boosted his estimated net worth to around $3 billion.
Although Jordan's legacy is rooted in his six-time championship triumphs with the Chicago Bulls, his financial impact has extended far beyond the basketball arena. His substantial earnings, approximately $2.4 billion before taxes, came from lucrative partnerships with major brands such as Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's, and Hanes. This is a stark contrast to the $93.9 million he earned during his playing days, a period when player salaries were not as extravagant as they are today.
In addition to his business ventures, Jordan secured his spot on the Forbes 400 list through the sale of his majority stake in the Hornets, marking the second-highest sale price in NBA history at $3 billion. Notably, he is among the rare individuals who have achieved remarkable success multiple times, as acknowledged by Washington Wizards governor Ted Leonsis, Jordan's past business partner.
While many aspire to emulate Jordan's success, he is not the sole athlete to reach billionaire status. LeBron James and Tiger Woods have also crossed the billion-dollar mark, although they have some ground to cover if they aim to match Jordan's financial prowess and secure a place on the Forbes list.
Jordan's influence in the sports world remains unwavering; he retains a stake in the Hornets and has co-founded the NASCAR Cup Series team 23XI Racing with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, indicating that his impact continues to reverberate in various arenas of the sports industry.