Michael Jordan had many obsessions outside of the game of basketball, including golf and cigars. One of his lesser known obsessions happened to be cars. In fact, upon meeting Sonny Vaccaro before signing a deal with Nike, MJ demanded a car in return for his signature. In particular, a $40,000 Mercedes. However, before he signed the historic deal, creating Air Jordan shoes, MJ managed to sign a sneaky deal with Chevrolet. A deal that reportedly saw him getting a free Corvette.
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The recently released movie Air, which covered Vaccaro’s difficult yet exciting journey to sign MJ, highlighted the Bulls legend’s love for cars. In fact, the film even suggests that his deal with Nike hinged on whether or not he received a $40,000 red Mercedes. It was a demand that the rookie sensation thought would never be fulfilled, but Nike surprised him.
Before demanding a $40,000 Mercedes, Michael Jordan received a Chevrolet Corvette C4
Despite having his name associated with the Jordan brand, Michael Jordan received his first endorsement deal much earlier. At the start of his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls in 1984, MJ was approached by a Chevrolet dealership.
The dealership wanted Jordan to do a few commercials, and in return, he would receive a brand-new Corvette C4. A car fitted with a new 5.7-liter V8-powered engine, and one that acquired national recognition, all thanks to its appearances on ‘The A-Team’ television series.
His Airness was clearly taking advantage of his growing popularity in order to secure deals. Such was the case when he was approached by Nike. His status as a rising superstar served him well, considering his demand for a $40,000 red Mercedes was met by the brand. And with that, the Jordan brand was born.
The Bulls legend certainly had a way of getting things done. But things didn’t just end with Nike and Chevrolet, the six-time NBA Champion acquired several endorsement deals in his stellar career. All of which contributed to his $2 billion net worth.
MJ has several major endorsement deals
Michael Jordan’s endorsement deals extended beyond Corvette and Nike. His business portfolio is vast and lucrative and includes partnerships with brands like Gatorade, Hanes, McDonald’s, and Wheaties, among other deals.
The five-time NBA MVP transformed himself into a global icon, setting new standards for athlete endorsements and establishing a lasting legacy in the world of sports. It’s safe to say, that the business side of the league would never have flourished were it not for Jordan and his incredible marketing strategies.
