Immediately upon entering the NBA, Michael Jordan was hailed as the ‘next great phenomenon’ in the league. His awe-inspiring statistics and remarkable achievements made him a sought-after figure for brand endorsements. He became the iconic representative of Nike’s basketball endeavors, securing a rookie contract worth $2.5 million. As time went on, every aspect of Jordan’s persona became a lucrative asset, reaching a point where he began to feel overwhelmed by his own fame. In a revealing interview clip released by Costa Sports during the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan disclosed how he had even sold his infectious smile to promote renowned brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
Several brands jumped at the opportunity to have this young 23-year-old star endorse their products. Coca-Cola and McDonald’s were no exception and sealed lucrative deals with Jordan. The Bulls star sold his smile to these companies, which helped him earn $800,000 from the signed deals. However, the Bulls star also revealed his overwhelming feeling, given the fast pace of everything happening to him all at once.
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Michael Jordan’s smile earned him $800,000
An interview from the 1986-87 NBA season from Australia’s Sports Sunday magazine show revealed the massive wealth Michael Jordan was garnering as a 23-year-old. Jordan already had his rookie contract deal with the Chicago Bulls worth $6.3 million for 7 years, earning around $900,000 annually. Besides this, he also had a $2.5 million Nike contract alongside several other endorsements, making him earn around $4 million annually in total. The interview with Australia’s Channel 9 revealed the endorsements Jordan was garnering as a young rookie in the league. Here is an excerpt detailing the various deals signed by Jordan in the mid-80s.
“His feet and the Air Jordan trademark belonged to Nike for a cool $2.5 million. His wrist to watchmaker Guy Laroche, his palm to Wilson Sporting Goods, his satisfied smile to Coke and McDonald’s for $800,000, his short haircut to Johnson Cosmetics. Add in his basketball contract and you’re looking at a $4 million man, who says he used to be a gawky kid from North Carolina.”
Michael Jordan admitted that all of these endorsements made him feel overwhelmed. When the Bulls star was asked if he felt his body was owned by a corporate, he replied:
“A little bit. I feel that I’ve reached my limits and endorsements.”
Michael Jordan earned the majority of his income from off-the-court ventures
Michael Jordan is one of the richest basketball stars, having amassed a fortune worth $2 billion. After his $2.5 million deal with Nike in 1984, several other endorsement offers started flowing over the next six years. All such deals allowed him to earn quadruple his $3,000,000 Bulls salary.
MJ earned a total of $93 million from his player contracts. This forms only a quarter of his $2 billion net worth. As it is evident, Jordan’s various endorsements and business ventures helped him amass the wealth that he boasts today.
