Michael Jordan is not just the greatest basketball player of all time. He is also now the highest paid athlete of all time.
Jordan is one of the most remarkable NBA star, and up to this day, his popularity is still on top of the game. MJ has a net worth of $1.24 billion, according to Forbes.
Forbes named the retired Chicago Bulls star as the highest paid athlete of all time with a whopping $1.7 billion earnings since he joined the NBA. It has been more than a decade since Jordan’s final retirement from the basketball world. But still, he makes a lot of huge endorsements compared to those active players. His total earning has never been greater since then.
Jordan became rich not because of his salary from NBA but from all of his big endorsement deals. MJ’s cumulative overall salary from both Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards was $93 million.
Off the court, Michael’s endorsement deals with big companies such as Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Wheaties, Hanes and other more contributed to his astonishing wealth. In 2016, Nike paid Jordan more than $100 million, thanks to the success of the Jordan Brand, which is owned by Nike. For the fiscal year of 2015, which ended last May, Nike gained revenue of $2.8 billion just for the Jordan brand.
The Jordan Brand is very in demand and saleable in the sports industry. Reportedly, it even dominates 50% of the sneaker market. Aside from that, Michael’s royalties from shoes, clothes, accessories and others made him earn more millions.
Forbes explained that “Our earnings estimates cover salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing, as well as fees from books, golf course design and appearances through the end of May 2016 (the cutoff for Forbes most recent Celebrity 100 list). We do not include investment income or deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.”
In other news, last year Jordan was the one who inducted Russell Westbrook into the Oklahoma City Hall of Fame as reported by Jobs & Hire.
