Before he became a superstar, Michael Jordan was a little boy with different characteristics that were in stark contrast to the billionaire we know today. In the biography “Michael Jordan: The Life”, paints a vivid picture of Jordan’s youth, highlighting a time when his financial future seemed far less promising.
Jordan’s father, the late James Jordan, was open in his Criticism of young Michael’s procrastination tendencies and predicted a financially difficult future for him due to his carefree attitude. His fears were stated in a quote documented in the book.
“That’s the laziest boy I’ve ever seen.” Jordan’s late father said in the book. “If he had to get a job in a factory punching a clock, he’d starve to death. He would give every last dime of his allowance to his brothers and sisters and even kids in the neighborhood to do his chores. He was always broke.”
Despite this, every time Michael stepped onto the basketball court, a transformation took place. Laziness gave birth to an unmatched level of competitiveness and enthusiasm, which signaled the beginning of the famed ‘Air Jordan’ that the rest of the world would soon see and appreciate.
Michael Jordan’s incredible rise to business tycoon
In a story that almost seems like a fairy tale, Michael Jordan turned the expectations set in his youth to become one of the most successful business personalities globally. Today, the name Jordan is known by millions of people and has moved beyond the basketball court to become a huge brand in the business world.
Notably, his collaboration with Nike through the “Jordan” brand generated a whopping over $5 billion in 2022 alone, contributing nearly a billion dollars to Jordan’s fortune in royalties.
Adding to his illustrious business portfolio, Jordan recently agreed to sell his majority share of the Charlotte Hornets, a basketball team he took ownership of in 2010 for $275 million. Though the exact figures remain confidential, the sale is speculated to be around an astonishing $3 billion, retaining a minority stake in the team.
In addition to his basketball ventures, the NBA Hall of Famer also owns the 23XI NASCAR team, establishing himself in the automobile sports world. His financial portfolio includes a wide range of investments, securing his position as one of the highest-earning personalities in the sports world.
So, the boy who was once too lazy to do his chores is now a successful businessman worth billions. The life of Michael Jordan demonstrates how, with the correct mindset and drive, anyone can transform and do great things.
