Earlier today, Boardroom posted an Instagram post announcing the 5 richest athletes of all time. In what will come as little surprise to NBA fans, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan sits on top of the list with career earnings of around $3.3 billion. Since joining the NBA in 1984, Jordan has earned huge amounts via salaries, endorsements, and a range of smart investments. As a result, he has earned around $800k more than golf legend and his close friend Tiger Woods, who is 2nd on the list.
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Jordan’s global presence and business acumen are a combination that has led to a $3 billion net worth. MJ has multiple endorsements and earns a huge amount annually via his lifetime deal with Nike. He also has a vast real estate portfolio and only recently sanctioned a $3 billion sale for the Charlotte Hornets.
Michael Jordan is the richest athlete in the history of sports
Mj has earned a whopping $1.3 billion from his Nike deal alone, since 1984, according to Forbes. He owns the 23XI NASCAR team, a sports betting company called DraftKings, and is also the owner of several restaurants.
This is in addition to his long-term stint as the owner and chairperson of the Charlotte Hornets. With a net worth of more than $3 billion, Jordan is not only the richest NBA player, but also the richest athlete in the history of sports.
He is followed close behind by his friend’s former gambling partner Tiger Woods. The two are followed by golfers Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo rounds off the number 5 spot with career earnings of $1.5 billion to date.
Apart from earning almost more than $800k than Woods, MJ has career earnings that are almost double of Arnold Palmer, who earned $1.7 billion. Nicklaus earned $1.6 billion, closely followed by former Real Madrid goalscorer Ronaldo.
Michael Jordan’s net worth to undergo further rise once Charlotte Hornets sale is finalized
While MJ is already far ahead of his illustrious colleagues, there is still a lot of scope of a wealth increase. A $3 billion Hornets sale has not yet been finalized. Once the details about the sale are made public, his net worth is expected to effectively cross the $4 billion mark.
His Airness has had an illustrious career that saw him win the title 6 times. MJ has managed to extend his legacy off the court as well. He was not known to have the most lucrative contracts during his playing career.
This was in part down to the earnings that he had outside the court, via his innumerable investments and endorsements. Jordan has managed to stay highly lucrative even years after his retirement, which is a special achievement in itself.
