NBA: Michael Jordan Is On Another Level, Cracks Forbes Billionaires List For First Time
Michael Jordan hates not coming in first place, but I think this list is one time he won’t mind what place he is in.
MJ cracked Forbes Billionaire list, clocking in as the 1,741st richest person in the world.
Few former athletes are as recognizable around the world as Jordan, so if a former athlete were to become one of the richest people in the world, it’s hardly surprising that it’s him. While his foray into an NBA front office and eventually ownership had its ups and downs, Jordan remains one of the league’s most important figures.
The bulk of Jordan’s worth is tied up in Nike and with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Jordan amassed his $1 billion fortune partly through his endorsement deal with Nike (NKE). The Jordan brand by Nike brought in an estimated $2.25 billion in 2013, which earned the 52 year-old athlete $90 million, according to Forbes.
But it was Jordan’s ownership of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team that catapulted him into the billionaire’s ranks this year. NBA teams soared in value after Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) CEO, paid $2 billion for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Safe to say his worth should only be expected to increase because the sneaker culture isn’t going anywhere, and despite the Bobcats not being a main attraction in the NBA, the worth of the franchise will continue to increase as well, especially after the new television deal coming in 2016.
Joe Casey @IamJoeSports
