Who is Michael Jordan?

Arguably the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan, brought greater marketability to the entire league and 6 championships to the city of Chicago. Along with his dominance on the hardwood, the 61-year-old is also known for being one of the richest athletes ever and one of the 400 richest Americans in 2024.

His Airness is also known for his Jordan Brand collaboration with Nike and owning the 23XI Racing Team in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Michael Jordan’s Early Life 

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth child in a family of five born to Deloris and James R. Jordan Sr. He was brought up in Wilmington, North Carolina with his two older brothers and sister, and one younger sister. From a very young age, Michael started playing basketball with his siblings in their grandparent’s backyard. Since he was shorter than his older siblings, he would usually lose initially.

This sparked the legendary competitive fire of His Airness. He talked about how his siblings pushed him early on in life during his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech as well. Once he grew up and worked on his skills, MJ started easily beating his siblings. However, he was still not very tall and this concerned him as a potential roadblock in a much-coveted basketball career. The young Mike would run to his mother, crying at times.

Both his parents were under 6 feet, so Deloris thought her son would be somewhere around 6 feet too. However, she did not tell him that, but rather consoled him and encouraged him to try different things to grow faster. MJ was a decent player back then, but was nowhere close to being a superstar. In fact, he was cut from the Varsity team as a junior because the coach thought he had yet to develop his skills properly. However, his taller friend made it to the team, and this caused MJ unbearable pain. This incident only added fuel to MJ’s competitive fire.

Jordan worked hard at his craft and soon cracked into the varsity team at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. With the help of a wild growth spurt, he was 6’6″ soon and became one of the best high school players in the country, averaging over 25 points per game over his last two seasons in high school.

Later when Michael Jordan was in college, he was introduced to golf, which would start his longstanding and storied relationship with the sport. Decades later, in 2019, MJ’s passion for golf would materialize in Grove XXIII, Jordan’s ultra-exclusive golf course featuring an 18-hole course and 15,000 square-foot clubhouse. For the privacy-conscious legend, Grove even houses drones that can deliver food and beverages to the guests. In January 2024, Jordan hosted members of his alma mater’s golf team at the $20 million private golf course.

Michael Jordan’s Wife and Children

Michael Jordan and his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy tied the knot in 1989. They have three children together: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine. Jordan and Juanita filed for divorce in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences, but got back together after a short while. They filed for divorce again later and the decree was finalized in 2006. As per reports, MJ paid a divorce settlement, a mix of property and assets, worth $168 million. It was the largest ever settlement at the time.

According to reports, Michael Jordan also had an affair with Karla Knafel before marrying Juanita Vanoy and had to pay Knafel $250,000 to keep the relationship a secret. Also, reports suggested that before marrying Vanoy, the Bulls legend dated actress Robin Givens, who is the ex-wife of boxing legend Mike Tyson. In 2013, the 6x NBA champion married Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto after a fateful meeting at a Miami club. A year later, the couple welcomed their twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel.

Michael’s sons Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan played basketball from a very young age and had their stints with college basketball. As of now, Jeffrey works for the Jordan brand and handles digital innovation. MJ’s eldest son also launched the sports apparel company Aktiiv with Nike veteran Tim Gobet.

On the other hand, Marcus is the proud owner of the Trophy Room, a sneaker store that sells Air Jordan products. The brothers also co-founded the Heir Jordan Foundation. Notably, Marcus Jordan is also in a public relationship with Larsa Pippen, who is Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife. In July 2023, MJ was leaving a dinner in Paris when some media members asked him if he approved of Marcus and Larsa’s relationship. The Hall of Famer replied “No!”

Michael Jordan’s daughter Jasmine is currently a field representative at the Jordan brand and closely works with WNBA stars. She is also married to former NBA pro, Rakeem Christmas. In May 2019, the couple welcomed their son and Michael Jordan’s first grandson, Rakeem Michael Christmas.

Michael Jordan’s Net Worth 

MJ’s success on the hardwood also created a platform for his lucrative off-court ventures. His endorsement deal with Nike was crucial to the financial growth of both parties. Nike’s marketing coupled with Jordan’s popularity, superstardom, and legend earned major profits for the partnership, which it still does to this day. Last year, it contributed to Michael Jordan becoming the first professional athlete to enter Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest Americans.

The birth of the Jordan brand elevated Nike and MJ to a different level, revolutionizing sneaker culture in the country and around the world. The 14x All-Star reportedly earns a 5% share from every Jordan sneaker sold, which helped him make nearly $260 million in 2022. Interestingly, his annual Nike royalties far exceed his total NBA career earnings ($90 million).

The Chicago Bulls legend also made some smart investments over the years that helped him become the first-ever ex-athlete to become a billionaire. In 2010, Michael Jordan bought a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $275 million. In August 2023, Jordan sold the team for a reported sum of $3 billion. The move spearheaded him into the Forbes 400 list, elevating his net worth to $3 billion.

In 2020, MJ joined forces with stock car racing driver Denny Hamlin to form 23XI Racing, which competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Jordan reportedly invested $150 million into the team. In just its third year, 23XI raised over $30 million from sponsorships.

Michael Jordan’s Career Timeline

Michael Jordan’s legendary career in the league was preceded by an equally iconic stint in the NCAA. MJ played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels for three years starting in 1981. He hit the game-winning shot to help the Tar Heels clinch the national title in 1982. With this dazzling display in front of the whole nation, his confidence and value soared. During the 1984 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls selected him as the #3 overall pick. Soon after, Jordan took the league by storm with his sheer athleticism, skill, and determination, winning the Rookie of the Year award.

There was no stopping his individual abilities, though, team success was hard to come by at first. MJ’s entrance coincided with the latter half of the Magic Johnson – Larry Bird era. In Jordan’s first 5 NBA, the championship was lifted either by the Boston Celtics, or the Los Angeles Lakers. The first team to overcome them during Jordan’s era were the Detroit Pistons.

After defeating the Celtics in the ECF, Isiah Thomas and Co. won Detroit’s first NBA championship in 1989 against the Lakers. The ‘Motor City Bad Boys’ boasted one of the NBA’s scariest defenses with enforcers like Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman. But it was head coach Chuck Daly who proved to be a real thorn in the side of Michael Jordan. Daly enforced ‘The Jordan Rules’ which allowed his players to stop MJ by “any means necessary”. Between 1988 and 1990, the Pistons eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs every season.

However, things had already started falling into place for Chicago. Legendary Phil Jackson became the Bulls’ head coach and the team landed Scottie Pippen by trading up in the 1987 NBA Draft. GM Jerry Krause slowly put together one of the most formidable teams of all time. It led to Chicago’s first championship in 1991 and a 3-peat that ended in 1993.

Just a month after winning his third straight ring, things took a tragic turn when Michael Jordan’s father, James, was murdered. Subsequently, MJ decided to take a break from basketball and announced his retirement. He then tried his hands at minor league baseball, which was a passion he had often discussed with his father. After a short stint in the minor league, Jordan announced that he was returning to the NBA with a resounding: “I’m back“.

Basketball fans in the country and around the world went wild after the announcement. When MJ returned to the Bulls during the 1994-95 season, he did not wear his iconic #23 jersey. Instead, Jordan chose to wear #45 because his father was not around and he felt like it was a new beginning. However, he only donned #45 for 22 games and eventually switched back to #23 in the 23rd game.

Michael Jordan needed some adaptation to the league after his brief hiatus. However, he still played at a very high level and helped the team to the playoffs. At this stage, MJ and the Bulls struggled in the Eastern Conference Finals against a young Orlando Magic side led by Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Jordan had a poor game-1 and there were comments that #45 is not #23. He then switched to #23 for game-2, but the Magic ended up winning the series 4-2.

The 14-time All-Star had previously lost 6 times in the playoffs. However, those were all before 1991. As the Magic had spoiled the victorious ending of MJ’s return, His Airness was motivated and worked harder than ever. The Magic and the Bulls eventually met in the playoffs the next year and the Bulls swept their opponents comfortably. Jordan and the Bulls then went on to win another three straight titles from 1996 to 1998. After the ‘Last Dance’ in 1998, Jordan announced his retirement for the second time. The Bulls honored him with a statue and retired his #23 jersey.

Three years later, the five-time NBA MVP  came back for the second time for a stint with the Washington Wizards. His two-year stint was not as successful. However, he still averaged over 20 points at the age of 38. MJ then finally called it quits in 2003. This time, the Miami Heat, a team he never played for, honored him for his achievements and retired #23. Michael Jordan was also probably one of the most durable players in basketball. He missed only seven games in 12 seasons from 1986-87 to 1997-98, if you discount the 1994-95 season where he played only 17 games due to a foot injury.

Over 1,072 games, Michael Jordan averaged a mindboggling 30.1 points with 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Furthermore, he was also efficient from the field with a field goal percentage of 49.7%. His Airness also averaged an unbelievable 38.3 minutes per game.

Regular Season Games	1072
Points	32,292 (30.1 PPG)
Rebounds	6,672 (6.2 RPG)
Assists	5,633 (5.3 APG)

Michael Jordan is the second-highest scorer in NBA playoff history behind LeBron James. Over 179 games, in the postseason the Black Cat improved his overall statistics to tally 33.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game.

Playoff Games	179
Points	5,987 (33.4 PPG)
Rebounds	1,152 (6.4 RPG)
Assists	1022 (5.7 APG)

Michael Jordan’s NBA contracts

Upon being drafted by the Bulls in 1983, Michael Jordan signed a 7-year $6.3 million contract and received a $250,000 signing bonus. While it may not reflect the value His Airness would go on to bring, for context, the salary cap at the time sat around $3.6 million. By MJ’s 4th season, the salary cap had grown to $6.2 million and Jordan himself was earning $795,000 a year. But after that, his contracts would enter into seven figures.

In 1988, the Bulls voided the last 3 years of MJ’s rookie contract to renew him on an 8-year $25 million deal. The annual salary started at $2 million during the 88-89 season and rose to $3.8 million during the 95-96 season. After returning from his first retirement though, Michael Jordan was a free agent. The fear of losing the Black Cat would prompt the Bulls’ front office to offer the then-33-year-old a whopping $30 million, 1-year deal.

His annual salary exceeded most NBA team’s payrolls during the 97-98 season. This was possible because there were no max contracts at the time. Teams could basically shell out how much ever they wanted to retain their stars. This led to Michael Jordan’s $30 million deal in 1996 and his $33 million deal in 1997-98. MJ’s last Chicago Bulls contract would remain the most expensive in NBA history for 20 years.

However, even after his second retirement, Jordan had more in the tank. After becoming President of Operations with the Washington Wizards in 2000, MJ signed a 2-year $2.03 million contract to play for the franchise. Notably, since his signing followed the 9/11 attacks, Michael Jordan donated his entire salary from the 2001-02 season to victims of terrorism.

All in all, Michael Jordan earned $94 million during his illustrious NBA career. $63 million of which came from his final two years in Chicago.

Michael Jordan’s Partnership and Endorsements

 The Hall of Famer launched Cincoro Tequila in 2019 with other NBA owners- Jeanie Buss (Lakers), Wes Edens (Bucks), Wyc Grousbeck (Celtics), and his wife Emilia Fazzalari. The unique 5-sided bottle was designed to symbolize the coming together of the 5 NBA owners. In just their first 3 years, the brand reportedly sold over 1.5 million bottles, which range from $85 to $350.

The brand also received numerous awards and accreditations in spirit competitions. “Cincoro is special to me because of the friendships we’ve established around designing it, experiencing it, and tasting it,” said MJ in 2022.

A huge chunk of Michael Jordan’s income though, is from his endorsements and partnerships with major brands like Gatorade, Hanes, and of course, Nike.

Michael Jordan’s Investments

Michael Jordan is the proud owner of the 23XI Racing Team in NASCAR. His love for cars manifested in the formation of the team in 2020. From 2010 to 2023, the 6x NBA champion was also the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA, which he sold for a $2+ billion profit. He has also invested in startups like the Silicon Valley Gigster project.

Notably, Jordan owns the ‘Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse’ restaurant chain, ‘MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill’, and multiple car dealerships. MJ also owns a stake in Draft Kings, where he acts as a corporate advisor for the company. The sports betting company is worth about $18 billion.

Michael Jordan’s Records

• The only player ever to win 10 scoring titles
• Most points scored in an NBA playoff game (63 vs the Boston Celtics in 1986)
• The only player ever to win MVP, DPOY, and scoring title in the same season (1988)
• The only player ever to win six Finals MVP awards(two three-peats)
• #5 on All-Time Scoring List
• #4 on All-Time Steals List
• Scoring double figures in 866 straight regular season games (#2 in the NBA)
• Highest point per game average in NBA Finals history (41.0 ppg vs the Phoenix Suns in 1993)
• Scoring 30+ Points in 562 regular season games (#1 in the NBA)

Michael Jordan’s Awards and Honors

• 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
• 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
• 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
• 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)
• 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
• 10× All-NBA First Team (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
• All-NBA Second Team (1985)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
• 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988–1993, 1996–1998)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
• 10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
• 3× NBA steals leader (1988, 1990, 1993)
• 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987, 1988)
• No. 23 retired by Chicago Bulls
• No. 23 retired by Miami Heat
• Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor
• 3× AP Athlete of the Year (1991–1993)
• Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (1991)
• 2× IBM Award (1985, 1989)
• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• NCAA champion (1982)
• National college player of the year (1984)
• 2× Sporting News National Player of the Year (1983, 1984)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1983, 1984)
• ACC Player of the Year (1984)
• ACC Athlete of the Year (1984)
• 2× First-team All-ACC (1983, 1984)
• ACC Rookie of the Year (1982)
• No. 23 retired by North Carolina Tar Heels
• 2× USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1983, 1984)
• McDonald’s All-American (1981)
• First-team Parade All-American (1981)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)

Michael Jordan’s Charity Work and Foundation

Michael Jordan is one of the most generous celebrities ever. Over the years, he has given back millions of dollars to society. In 2002, Jordan donated his entire season’s salary to 9/11-related funds. When Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas in 2018 and Hurricane Dorian damaged the Bahamas in 2019, Jordan announced contributions to several relief efforts. Counties in Charlotte and Wilmington have also benefitted from the health clinics funded by His Airness.

In February 2023, when Michael Jordan turned 60, he donated a staggering $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also supports other organizations like the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Nevada Cancer Institute, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, amongst several others. He also donated his earnings from ‘The Last Dance’ documentary to people affected by the pandemic. Last year, MJ made a $100 million commitment to help the Black community through the Jordan Brand.

Michael Jordan’s Shoe Deal

Nike and Michael Jordan’s partnership before he even entered the league led to the rise of the Leviathan that is the Jordan brand. In his rookie season, Jordan donned the Nike Air Ships a lot. However, since both sneakers were identical, Nike used the popularity of the legend to market the Air Jordan 1s. The Jordan 1s is one of the most iconic sneakers of the Jordan brand because it ushered in the sneaker revolution.

The Jordan brand is owned by Nike, but MJ secures a 5% royalty off the sales made by the brand. Michael Jordan reportedly earned $330m in 2023 thanks to the $6.6 billion revenue of the Jordan Brand. Over the years, some of Michael Jordan’s game-worn sneakers have also been auctioned for unbelievable prices.

His rookie season shoes, the Air Ships, were sold for $1.47 million in 2021. Jordan’s game-worn Air Jordan 1s was sold for $560,000 in 2020. His original ‘Shattered Backboard’ Air Jordan 1s were also sold for $615,000 in 2020. MJ wore them for a Nike exhibition game in Italy during which he shattered the backboard.

Michael Jordan’s House

A 32,685-square-foot mansion is among the possessions that Michael Jordan no longer needs. Built in 1995, the $29 million Chicago mansion has been on the market since 2012. Like most of Jordan’s homes, it boasts a putting green and an indoor basketball court. It’s also furnished with an infinity pool, a 15-car garage, a tennis court, a cigar room, and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.

These days though, the 6x NBA champion resides in Jupiter Island, Florida with his wife Yvette Prieto, and their twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel Jordan. MJ bought the property in golf legend Jack Nicklaus’ ultra-private community for $4.8 million in 2010. Constructing the home itself cost His Airness another cool $7.6 million. With 4 separate sections to the property, Jordan’s Jupiter Island abode is valued at nearly $20 million overall. With more cigar-friendly architecture and a full-sized basketball court, it doesn’t get more Michael Jordan than that.

20 miles away from Charlotte, North Carolina Jordan also owns a lakefront mansion. Much like the Florida house, this 12,310-square-foot mansion is also part of a gated golf community. It boasts 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, an infinity pool, and a private dock on Lake Norman. It’s reported to be MJ’s only house without a basketball court.

Michael Jordan’s Rings

Michael Jordan won 6 rings during his 15-season run in the NBA. After his first 7 seasons in the league, MJ and the Bulls won their first ring on 12th June 1991 after beating the Lakers 4-1. From 1991 to 1993, Jordan would go on to win 3 straight. Following a brief retirement, His Airness returned and won 3 more with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-1998. MJ remained undefeated in the NBA Finals.

His Bulls never even faced a Game 7 in the Finals due to Jordan’s dominance on the biggest stage. Each of his rings is valued to be around $150,000, making the total value of his rings at least $900,000.

Michael Jordan’s Cars, Private Jets and Boats

Michael Jordan spends his hard-earned fortune in style from private jets and luxury cars to customized golf courses. In 2023, His Airness purchased the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution, which has a reported top speed of 300mph. Only 12 units were built last year. It dethroned the Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir, which was previously Jordan’s most expensive car. The asking price for the F5 Revolution? $3 million. That’s no problem for MJ.

In 2016, Michael Jordan spent an eye-popping $61.5 million on a luxurious Gulfstream G550 jet. Other sporting icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods have also owned Gulfstream jets. Jordan’s G550 can hold 19 passengers and has been customized to include a bar and cigar station. Unfortunately, though the cabin of the G550 is reported to be 6ft 2 inches, could cause 6’6” MJ some issues.

In 2007, Jordan also picked up the rare Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren 722 for $650,000. Only 150 units of the car were manufactured. From Ferraris to Chevrolets, Michael Jordan’s car collection consists of some classic, iconic, and incredibly fast options for the 6x NBA champion. MJ also owns a colossal superyacht which is worth a whopping $80 million. Furthermore, the Hall of Famer has shelled out over a jaw-dropping $170 million just to maintain it.

Michael Jordan’s Motorsports History

Less than a year after retiring, Michael Jordan formed ‘Michael Jordan Motorsports’ in 2004, a team that participated in professional AMA Superbike Competitions. Jordan revealed that he grew fond of dirt bikes when he was 7 or 8 years old but couldn’t practice much due to his professional contract. After retirement though, he picked up on his lost love.

‘Michael Jordan Motorsports’ driver Montez Stewart finished 23rd overall in the Daytona 2004 standings. It was their first competition but Jordan still yearned for more. The next year, the team sourced bikes from Suzuki instead of Yamaha and hoped for better results. After securing 1st and 2nd positions in the 2008 AMA Superstock Championship, things were looking up for the team.

MJ’s team would win their first race at Daytona with Jake Zemke. Zemke would finish 3rd overall that year, ending a drought for ‘Michael Jordan Motorsports’. However, the streak would not continue. By 2014, the team would announce that they are stepping away from the American Motorcyclist Association.

Michael Jordan’s Social Media Accounts

Michael Jordan is not active on any social media.

Full Name	Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Popular Name	Michael Jordan
Birth Date	17/02/1963
Birth Place	Brooklyn, New York
Age	61
Height	6’6” (1.98m)
Weight (Update)	216 lbs (98 kgs)
Parents	James R. Jordan Sr., Deloris Jordan
Siblings	Larry, James R. Jr., Deloris, and Roslyn
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Net Worth	$3 billion
Spouse	Yvette Prieto (m. 2013), Juanita Vanoy (1989 – 2006)
Relationship/Marital Status	Married
Children	Jeffrey, Marcus, Jasmine, Victoria, and Ysabel
Team	Chicago Bulls
Rings	6