Michael Jordan [2024 Update]: Relationships, Controversies & Net Worth

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is probably the first name that arises in everyone’s mind whenever there is a discussion about basketball and NBA.

He is a Legendary Basketball Player from the 80s and one of the richest sportsmen in NBA history.

Michael is currently a retired basketball player who is a businessman and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association.

In Frame: Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls Jersey. Picture: Marca

Playing 15 NBA seasons, this amazing player had made several records that are still unbroken.

Let’s jump into the depth biography of Michael Jordan, beginning with his quick facts.

Quick Facts: Michael Jordan

Celebrated Name	Michael Jordan
Age	61 years old
Nick Name	Air Jordan, Black Cat, MJ, and His Airness
Birth Name	Michael Jeffery Jordan
Date of Birth	February 17, 1963
Gender	Male
Profession	Basketball Player, Entrepreneur, and Spokesperson
Place of Birth	Brooklyn, New York, USA
Nationality	American
Birth Nation	America
Ethnicity	Afro-American
Zodiac Sign	Aquarius
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Yvette Prieto
Children	5; Jasmine M. Jordan, Jeffrey Michael Jordan, Marcus Jordan, Ysabel Jordan, and Victoria Jordan
Father	James R. Jordan, Sr.
Mother	Deloris Jordan
Siblings	4; Larry Jordan, Deloris Jordan, Roslyn Jordan, and James Jordan Jr.
Build	Athletic
Religion	Christian
Height	6 feet 6 inches (1.98m)
Weight	98kg (215 pounds)
Eye Color	Yellow
Hair Color/ Style	Clear, Bald
Net Worth	$2.2 Billion
Profession	Basketball Player
Wingspan	2.1m
Career stats	1,072: 30.1: 38.3
Teams	Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls.
Sexual Orientation	Straight
Education	Emsley A. Laney High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Social Media	Not Active
Merch	Autographed Gold Rookie Card, Autographed Goodwin Portrait Original Card, Signed Fleer Rookie Blow Up Basketball Cards, Signed Upper Deck Slabbed Rookie Card,
Last Update	April, 2024

Early Life and Family of Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, aka MJ, was born on February 17, 1963, in the beautiful city of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.

Jordan is the proud son of James R. Jordan Sr (father) and Deloris Jordan (mother). His father was a bank employee and equipment supervisor, while his mother was a bank teller.

However, Michael had a pretty easy childhood along with his four siblings, Larry Jordan, Deloris Jordan, Roslyn Jordan, and James Jordan Jr.

High School

His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Michael attended Emsley A. Laney High School. From an early age, Jordan was interested in physical games and athletics.

He played several games, including basketball, baseball, and football, during high school. Over those, he chooses to stay with basketball and tried for the Varsity basketball team.

Due to his short height, 5 feet, and 11 inches, at that time, only his tall friend, Harvest Leroy Smith, was approved to play.

Jordan kept on trying hard and became the star player on Laney’s Junior Varsity team. Magical Jordan grew up four inches in the following year and earned a spot on the Varsity roster.

Likewise, during his senior year, he played in the 1981 McDonald’s All-American Game with an average score of 27 points.

Due to his amazing records, many colleges approached him, such as Duke, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse, etc.

Similarly, Michael chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and began his college domination.

College Career

Michael was recruited by coach Dean Smith’s team and named the ACC Freshman of the Year.

His jump shot against Georgetown was an epic that got the victory in the 1982 NCAA Championship game.

Jordan was the player that every team wanted after his victory shot and college career, with an average of 17.7 ppg on 54% shooting.

During his sophomore and junior season, he was selected to the NCAA-All-American First Team.

Jordan won several awards, such as Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year.

This Legendary basketball player got graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.

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Professional Career

Early NBA Years

Professional Career Jordan began with his third pick in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan, during his rookie season, had an average of 28.2 ppg on 51.5% shooting.

After his presence in the game, the team won 35% of the games in three seasons. With his amazing gameplay and skills, the fans of the opposing team began to admire Jordan.

He began to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “A Star Is Born.” Nonetheless, Jordan became the rookie player of the season.

Due to his excessive popularity, his team players were upset and even refused to pass the ball to Jordan.

However, he was named the Rookie of the Year and finished the season with a loss to Milwaukee Bucks.

Similarly, with the rise of popularity, the shoes he wore during the auction game in August 2020 were sold for $615,000.

Sadly in the second season, Jordan broke his foot and missed 64 games. With the absence of Jordan, the Chicago bulls had to suffer a loss and had the worst season in NBA history.

After his return to the game, he set the record of 63 points in a playoff game in two Games, which is still unbroken.

With his complete recovery and back in form, he had one of the most prolific seasons in NBA history.

Michael Jordan scored 3,000 points in a season and became the only player with an average of 37.1 points on 48.2% shooting.

Moreover, Jordan became the first player to record 200 steals and 100 blocked shots in one season.

Pistons Roadblock

Magical Jordan continued to set new records and win titles in the coming seasons.

In the 1987-88 season, he won the first league MVP award and became the Defensive Player of the Year.

Chicago Bulls defeated Cleveland Cavaliers in five games by 50-32, which happened for the first time in Jordan’s career.

However, Chicago Bulls were defeated five times by Detroit Pistons.

The pistons even won the sixth game against the Bulls.

However, in the 1989-90 season, he scored a career’s highest 69 points against the Cavaliers.

Once again, Chicago Bulls lost to Detroit Pistons in their seventh straight match for the third consecutive season.

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National Team Career

Black Cat, a proud sportsman of the United States, made his debut for the national team at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.

With his presence on the team, the United States won the match and won the gold medal in the overall competition.

Similarly, in the 1984 Summer Olympics, he won another gold medal.

Jordan became the country’s star player and named their team “Dream Team” in 1992.

Similarly, Dream Team won two gold medals in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas and the 1992 Summer Olympics.

When Jordan was still playing in the team, they never lost a single game in four tournaments. This proves the essence of the legend, Michael Jordan.

Awards and Achievements of Michael Jordan

College Awards

NCAA National Championship
ACC Freshman of the Year
Two times Consensus NCAA All-American First Team
ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
USBWA College Player of the Year
Naismith College Player of the Year
Adolph Rupp Trophy
John R. Wooden Award
The North Carolina Tar Heels retired Jersey 23

NBA Awards

Six-time NBA Champion
Six-time NBA Finals MVP Player
Five-time NBA MVP Player
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
NBA Rookie of the Year
10 times NBA scoring leader
3 times NBA Steals leader
14 times NBA All-Star
Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
Nine-times NBA All-Defensive First Team
Two-times NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Two-times IBM Award Winner

Other Awards

Two times Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the class of 2009 and 2010.
United States Olympic Hall of Fame as the class of 2009
Two times FIBA Hall of Fame as the class of 2015 and 2017
Two times Olympic gold medal winner in 1984 and 1992
Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner in 1992
Pan American Games gold medal winner in 1983
Three times Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1991, 1992, and 1993
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 1991
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
Marca Leyenda winner in 1997
10 times ESPY Award winner
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016

Post Retirement

With his retirement, Michael Jordan thought of getting back as Director of Basketball Operations of the Wizards.

However, Jordan isn’t the Directory technically as the owner of Wizards Abe Pollin fired him from the presidency of basketball operations on May 7, 2003.

He felt betrayed after getting fired from the Wizards. Jordan mentioned that he would have never played for the Wizards if he knew he would be fired after his retirement.

For the next several years, he spent quality time with his family and playing golf in Chicago. Along with that, he promoted his Jordan Brand clothing and rode motorcycles.

Similarly, in 2020, Jordan and Denny Hamlin, a NASCAR driver field a NASCAR team with Bubba Wallace driving. On October 22, their team was confirmed to be 23XI Racing on number 23.

Personal Life of Michael Jordan

Air Jordan grew up in a giant family with two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister.

Sadly his father, James R. Jordan, Sr. was robbed and killed in 1993.

This world-popular sportsman player with a passive income has been in a relationship with several women and also failed in the relationship many times.

Jordan was first married to Juanita Vanoy in 1989 and was blessed with two beautiful sons and one daughter. The names of the children are Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine.

However, the couple got separated on December 29, 2006.

After their divorce, his wife, Junita, received a huge amount of $168 million as alimony. This became the largest celebrity divorce settlement at that time.

Rich Jordan bought a lot in Highland Park, Illinois, and built a 56,000 square foot mansion in 1995. Likewise, the mansion was listed for sale in 2012.

Michael’s former lover Karla Knafel agreed to keep their relationship secret with the agreement of $5 million.

Jordan paid her $250,000, but Knafel threatened Jordan to file a paternity suit to get the remaining amount.

However, it was revealed that Jordan was not the father of Knafel’s child through a DNA test in 1991.

Jordan’s relationship with Yvette Prieto

After all the bad relationships in his past, Jordan proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Yvette Prieto, a Cuban-American model, on Christmas 2011.

The couple was married at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church on April 27, 2013. Well, in November, they announced that they are expecting a child.

MIchael Jordan with his Wife — Michael Jordan with his Wife

Likewise, on February 11, 2014, this beautiful couple was blessed with twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel.

Michael Jordan became a grandfather after his daughter Jasmine became a mother in 2019.

Controversies of Michael Jordan

With big fame and name, big problems also arise.

Similar is the life of this legendary basketball player; many problems and issues have occurred.

Well, one of his biggest controversies was punching Steve Kerr during the 1995 training camp.

The clash between Jordan and Kerr began in the 1995-96 season when the Bulls won an NBA record.

They began to talk trash and eventually turned the talk into a fight-ending with Jordan’s punch and Kerr’s black eye.

Similarly, Jordan’s first retirement was also a huge shock in the basketball world as one of the finest and top players on the planet was suddenly leaving the game.

After his father was murdered, he was often seen in Atlantic City gambling on poker and golf.

Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time, failed in the front office, which became the next biggest shocking controversy of his life.

Some more huge controversies in the life of Michael Jordan that came like a clap of thunder are leaving Isiah Thomas Off the Dream Team and keeping quiet about Nike’s Unfair Labor Practices.

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Michael Jordan: Restraunt

Michael Jordan inaugurated his first restaurant in Chicago in the year 1993. Gradually, with progress in his professional career, his venture seemed to be making progress as well.

Eventually, Jordan’s restaurant went on to spread nationwide and turned into the “Michael Jordan’s Steak House” it is today.

The fine-dining steak house founded in 1997, now has spread across four different cities in the US. The private dining service offered by the steak house shows its potential of becoming an international restaurant.

Net Worth of Michael Jordan

One of the richest sportsmen and former basketball players, Michael Jordan, has a total net worth of around $2.2 Billion.

You might be thinking, how can anyone earn such huge money as a sportsperson. Well, Michael Jordan is one of the living examples with multi-billion dollars in his pocket.

During his active NBA career, Jordan earned a total of $93.7 million.

Similarly, this legendary basketball player is the first person to earn over $30 million in a single year as a salary.

After his retirement, this former sportsman earns even more money than he used to.

For almost two years, Michael Jordan earned around $100 million per year through various business ventures and brand endorsements.

Similarly, he makes around $60 million every year only through Nike/Jordan brand royalties.

Michael Jordan: Net Worth Milestones

$500,000,000 in 2009

$650,000,000 in 2013

$1,000,000,000 in 2014

$1,100,000,000 in 2016

$1,200,000,000 in 2017

$1,500,000,000 in 2018

$1,900,000,000 in 2019

$2,200,000,000 in 2020

Endorsements

Air Jordan is the most popular and wanted sports figure in history.

He is the spokesperson for several big brands such as Nike, Chevrolet, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Wheaties, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, MCI, and Hanes.

Gatorade is one of the favorites and long-term brands with over 20 commercials since 1991.

Air Jordan’s name began with Nike as it created a signature shoe naming as Air Jordan in 1984.

Since then, the demand for Air Jordan hyped in the market, and subsequently, Nike launched its division as “Jordan Brand.”

Likewise, Jordan is also associated with the cartoon character Looney Tunes.

In the commercial for 1992’s Super Bowl XXVI, Jordan and Bugs Bunny were playing basketball.

Brand endorsement is one reason Michael Jordan became a Billionaire as he earns over $40 million through his advertisements.

Business Ventures

In 2010, Michael was ranked as the 20th-most powerful celebrity in the world by Forbes with $55 million.

Only with the brand, Jordan did Nike makes a sale of $1 Billion.

In 2014, he became the first Billionaire as an NBA player.

Similarly, Jordan increased his stake from 80% to 89.5% in the Charlotte Hornets and was honored with the Business Person of the Year.

He also became the owner of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball in 2017.

With his net worth of $2.2 Billion, he became the fourth-richest African American.

Charity

Jordan is a big-hearted person who never steps back from charities and helps people in need.

Similarly, he hosted an annual golf tournament from 2001 to 2014 to raise money for charity programs.

He and his wife, Juanita, donated $5 Million to Chicago’s Hales Franciscan High School.

Also, with his brand, he successfully donates huge amounts to Habitat for Humanity and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Similarly, in 2008, he became Chief Wish Ambassador of The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

About $5 million was raised for the foundation after Jordan granted his 200th wish.

Film and Television

This Legendary Basketball player has also appeared on several big screens. He appeared in the comedy film Space Jam in 1996, which made $230 million worldwide.

In 2000, a documentary about his career with the Chicago Bulls was filmed focusing on the 1998 championship season.

Similarly, after two decades, his documentary was filmed in more detail.

The documentary was filmed for more than 500 hours of candid Jordan and his teammates.

Likewise, Jordan also appeared in the music video of Travis Scott for his single “Franchise” at Jordan’s house in Highland Park, Illinois.

Books

Michael Jordan has written several books. Here are the lists of his books:

Also, many writers have written books based on Michael Jordan’s professional life.

Specifically, The Jordan Rules became a more famous book as it shows Jordan’s behavior with his teammates behind the scenes.

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Social Media Presence

After such a huge contribution to the game, many basketball players and fans respect him.

That is why Jordan gets huge respect on both inside and outside social media.

Although this world popular sportsman doesn’t use any social media platforms.

However, several fan pages of Michael Jordan share his pictures and activities seen in public places.

With the love and support of people, he doesn’t seem to need the help of social media.

Michael Jordan: Quotes

“I’ve never lost a game, I just ran out of time.”

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something.”

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you.”

FAQs

How much does Michael Jordan make with his brand royalties?

Billionaire Jordan makes around $60 Million per year only through his brand royalties.

What are Michael Jordan’s total career points?

The total career points made by Michael Jordan is 32,292.

How many seasons did Jordan play in NBA, and how many championships did he win?

Michael has played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six championships with Chicago Bulls.

What is Michael Jordan’s card value?

Michael Jordan’s cards are, to record, worth $2.7 Million.