Michael Jordan is worth $3,800,000,000 and a large part of that came from clever investment that massively paid off

Published on Dec 05, 2025 at 6:43 AM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara

Last updated on Dec 04, 2025 at 8:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

Former Basketball star and Dream Team legend Michael Jordan is worth a whopping $3.8 billion.

And although he definitely made some money while in the NBA, a very large part of his billions came from an extremely clever investment.

Jordan is not only a legend on the basketball court, but clearly also an astute businessman off it.

And it’s his ability to spot a great business idea that made him a billionaire.

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The greatest basketball player of all time?

Jordan was picked up by the Chicago Bulls with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft.

In his debut season in 1985, Jordan wowed the masses, winning Rookie of the Year that season.

By the end of his career, Jordan had become a 14-time NBA All-Star for the Bulls and had won six NBA championships.

All six came with two three-peats, solidifying Michael Jordan as one of the greatest athletes ever.

The No. 23 would also win the NBA Finals MVP award in every single one of those Finals wins.

Throughout his career, the star was never afraid to bet big on himself.

Back in 1984, in the early days of his career, Jordan famously met with Nike.

Early signs of his business acumen were visible when the brand created the ‘Jordan’ sneaker line.

As part of the deal, the star received a five percent royalty from the sales of his shoes.

Of course, that line went on to become a multi-billion-dollar empire.

Michael Jordan becomes a billionaire

But his sponsorships with Nike, McDonald’s, and Gatorade aren’t what made him a billionaire.

Instead, it was a deal that involved a different NBA team.

Back in 2010, the star became the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

He served as majority owner for 13 years before selling his majority stake, which by then was worth a whopping $3 billion.

The deal saw the team sold to an ownership consortium led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.

Interestingly, even after the sale, the star remains a minority owner within the organization.

But the deal made him the first athlete to land on the list of America’s 400 wealthiest people.

He also remains arguably the most iconic global athlete to ever exist.

Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.