Junior Bridgeman was traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on draft night. His story could have ended early; instead, he became a multi-millionaire!
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NBA players are spendthrifts and while examples of Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson defy the norm, the pioneer came long before them. He was a part of the 1975 NBA Draft. Any guesses?
Well, this is a hard one for most people but Junior Bridgeman was the prototype NBA investor and his journey started well before Magic Johnson or Shaquille O’Neal.
While his accolades and craft as a player weren’t supernatural by any means, he did have a decent career. But what he did off the court is perhaps his greatest achievement. And rightfully so.
Junior didn’t make much money during his time in the NBA, his annual salary never exceeded $350,000 and he knew it wouldn’t last. So he decided to invest.
Junior Bridgeman, gets traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, has a 12-year career, and is now worth over $600 million!
Bridgeman’s career might not be as flattering as a lot of other players but reckon his fortune makes up for it. Yes, the former Milwaukee Bucks player is worth well over $600,000,000!
How did he get here? By opening a few Wendy’s franchises. Once he saw the potential, he went all-in. 360 franchises and 16 states later, he was given a bigger opportunity.
Coca-Cola gave him the opportunity to sell off the franchise in exchange for a bottling and distribution agreement in various states. Enamored by the offer and the repertoire for Bridgeman, he jumped on it and even took additional rights in Canada.
Players like Bridgeman are the ideal example of what you should do with your money. Saving it and investing it in the right place is the way to go. Spending it while you are a millionaire is a recipe for disaster.
Fun Fact: Bridgeman is currently richer than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by at least 30 times!
Also read: A 41-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 6 skyhooks for his 26 points in Game 5 of the 1988 NBA Finals
