Many athletes make more in their years in retirement, while others ramp up partnerships with more time to devote to them, unlike Michael Jordan.
Jordan is one of such athletes who retired more than 20 years ago and has earned more than any of his colleagues and is continuing his four-decade run as the G.O.A.T. off the court.
With his iconic line of shoes, it seems Jordan is the person every athlete is chasing in the business world.
Last year, the top highest-paid athletes in the world made a record $6.2 billion through various salaries, prize money, and endorsements.
This list was led by Cristiano Ronaldo with a $260 million net worth, Stephen Curry at $154 million, and Michael Jordan, who had an estimated net worth of $300 million.
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The numbers pushed his total career earnings to $3 billion since he turned pro in 1984.
This, therefore, reveals he sits at the top of some of the highest-paid athletes of all time.
He is ahead of Tiger Woods with an estimated net worth of $2.79 billion, Cristiano Ronaldo at $2.23 billion, and LeBron James at $1.88 billion.
His accumulated net worth is through the following initiatives.
Nike signed a deal with Jordan after the Chicago Bulls selected him third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft.
The agreement negotiated by David Falk, initially for five years, was worth $500,000 per year and famously included a cut of the sales of sneakers that first hit the market in 1985.
The brand, however, has soared since then which resulting in revenue doubling for the Jordan brand since 2020 as it expanded into more women’s gear, non-basketball items, and international sales.
Besides Nike, Michael Jordan maintains his longtime endorsement relationships with Gatorade, Five Star, Upper Deck, and 2K.
In 2023, he sold a majority interest in the Charlotte Hornets, but the five-time NBA MVP remains a team owner in the 23XI Racing NASCAR team.
He also has investments in Axiomatic, Cincoro tequila, DraftKings, and Sportradar.
In 2024, he put money into Courtside Ventures, a VC fund focused on sports, lifestyle, and gaming.
Just like Michael, hanging up your boots or cleats does not mean the end of the money flow for many all-time greats.
