Michael Jordan Makes $100M More Than When He Was Ballin’ With Bulls


When Michael Jordan won a lawsuit against a grocery chain that used his name illegally, he thanked his lawyers and gleefully said it was never about the money. No truer words were ever spoken. Jordan pulled in an icy $100 million profit from sales of his sneakers in 2014. That staggering number is more than the former NBA star made in his career with the Bulls. Jordan netted over $94 million in his playing days.

As reported by Yahoo Sports, U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur called Jordan’s demand against the chain “greedy.” The $5 million lawsuit was eventually turned into an $8.9 million settlement, awarded by jurors who sided with Michael’s legal team and their reasoning.

Sneakers, gym shoes, Chucks, high-tops, whatever you decide to call them, are an American iconic symbol. They have quickly become an alternative to dress or casual shoes. The sneaker industry pulled in a staggering $34 billion dollars in 2014. Michael Jordan and Nike grabbed the majority of that cash. The shoe giant and Brand Jordan grabbed more than a whopping 90 percent of the sales, according to Matt Powell, a sport industry analyst and contributor to Forbes.

There’s no need to go far beyond Nike to find the source of Michael Jordan’s income. As reported by CBS Sports, Jordan was paid $480 million dollars between 2000 and 2012. There are a few other endorsements that earned Jordan substantial revenue. But the shoe deal with Brand Jordan has been the main breadwinner.

If you factor in the money from sneakers, advertising, Gatorade, Hanes, and Upper Deck, the result is an obscene amount of money. Averaged out through last year, Jordan pulls in around $44 million. Jordan made four times what Lebron made last year.

With Jordan making the Forbes list of billionaires, one would wonder why the former Bulls star would sue for so much money. Jordan’s lawyers laid the foundation for Michael’s likeness and shoe brand being in jeopardy. If the Jordan’s don’t sell, the empire may crumble.

Jordan redefined the industry. No other star athlete has their own shoe company. Jordan has made Nike a giant in the athletic footwear industry. People sleep out overnight for a chance to get the yearly rehash of his kicks.

It makes sense that Jordan would make more money off the court than he did on it. He proved that the stars are what sell a product. If a fan likes that player, he wants to be connected in any way possible. If that means purchasing a $200 pair of sneakers, Nike and Jordan are more than willing to help.

[Photo via CBS Sports]

Share this article: Michael Jordan Makes $100M More Than When He Was Ballin’ With Bulls
More from Inquisitr