Michael Jordan in 1996; Michael Jordan in 2012.
Michael Jordan has an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion as of December 2025, according to Forbes
Beyond his 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan has racked up millions through his long-running Nike partnership and by co-owning two sports teams
He has donated more than $100 million to various charitable organizations
Michael Jordan spent 15 seasons cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in the NBA — and his off-court fortune proves he never stopped winning.
Jordan entered the league as the No. 3 pick for the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA draft and went on to build what many view as the most dominant résumé in basketball history. His accolades include six championships, six Finals MVP awards and 14 All-Star selections.
During his years on the court, he earned roughly $90 million in salary and bonuses, topping the league’s payroll in both the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons before officially retiring in 2003, per Forbes. But his earnings exploded off the hardwood, thanks to major deals with brands like McDonald’s, Gatorade, Hanes and, most notably, Nike.
Jordan's biggest financial milestone came in August 2023, when he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for a staggering $3 billion. He still holds a minority share in the team and also serves as co-owner of 23XI Racing. The team is currently one of two organizations suing NASCAR in a federal antitrust trial, which began proceedings on Dec. 1.
Today, he ranks among the wealthiest people on the planet. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.8 billion, as of December 2025.
From his basketball career to his brand partnerships, here's everything to know about how Michael Jordan amassed his net worth.
What is Michael Jordan’s net worth?
Michael Jordan attends a press conference for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 'Air Jordan' Basketball Shoe on June 12, 2015 in Paris, France.
Michael Jordan attends a press conference for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 'Air Jordan' Basketball Shoe on June 12, 2015 in Paris, France.
According to Forbes, Jordan’s net worth is an estimated $3.8 billion.
Per the outlet, he earned $90 million from NBA contracts across 15 seasons, and his off-court partnerships — including major deals with brands like Nike, Gatorade, Hanes and McDonald’s — have brought in an estimated $2.4 billion pre-tax.
In 2023, Jordan pulled off one of the biggest financial wins in sports history by selling his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion — a move that made him the first professional athlete to land on Forbes’ annual list of the 400 richest Americans.
How much did Michael Jordan make from playing basketball?
Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw on December 14, 1996 in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw on December 14, 1996 in Chicago, Illinois.
Across his 15 NBA seasons, Jordan earned $94 million in salary and signing bonuses, per Forbes.
However, his salary wasn't consistent across seasons. In 1988, he signed an eight-year, $25 million contract extension with the Bulls, per the Los Angeles Times.
By the early 1990s, as he led Chicago to back-to-back titles, his contracts began to climb, and in 1996, he inked a one-year deal worth roughly $30 million — the biggest single season contract ever in American sports at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times.
He topped that the following year with a $33.1 million contract, which again made him the league’s highest-paid player. It continues to hold the record for the league's most valuable single season contract, per ESPN.
After a brief break, Jordan returned to the league in 2001 to play with the Washington Wizards, choosing to play for the veteran minimum while donating his entire salary to relief efforts after the 9/11 attacks, according to the NBA.
How much has Michael Jordan made from co-owning sports teams?
Michael Jordan during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina.
Michael Jordan during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina.
Jordan’s largest team-ownership payday came from the Charlotte Hornets. He bought a majority stake in the franchise — then called the Bobcats — in 2010 for an estimated $275 million, per CBS Sports.
In August 2023, he sold that stake in a blockbuster $3 billion deal, one of the most profitable team sales in sports history. He still retains a minority share.
Jordan is also a co-owner of 23XI Racing, which he launched in 2020 with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, according to Today. The team has grown quickly, with revenue rising from about $28 million in 2021 to more than $62 million in 2024, per ESPN.
Even with that growth, the financial picture has been mixed: 23XI posted a modest net income of $3.5 million in 2023 but recorded a $2.1 million loss in 2024, according to the outlet. Sponsorship remains its biggest moneymaker, bringing in nearly $40 million in 2024. Jordan’s personal earnings from the team have not been publicly disclosed.
His NASCAR ties have also placed him in the middle of a major legal battle. Jordan and 23XI are currently involved in a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR over the sport’s charter system and how revenue and competitive access are managed, per ESPN.
How much has Michael Jordan made from endorsements and brand partnerships?
Michael Jordan during the launch of the Air Jordan 2009 on January 8, 2009 in New York City.
Michael Jordan during the launch of the Air Jordan 2009 on January 8, 2009 in New York City.
The NBA legend's endorsement portfolio is one of the most lucrative in sports history. Over the course of Jordan's career, he has earned an estimated $2.4 billion pre-tax from brand partnerships, according to Forbes, with the majority of that coming from his long-running deal with Nike.
Jordan’s relationship with Nike began in 1984 when he joined the NBA. What started as a standard endorsement deal eventually grew into the Jordan Brand, which officially launched in 1997.
Early expectations for the Jordan Brand were modest. In May 2020, Jordan's former agent, David Falk, revealed on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that Nike hoped to sell $3 million worth of Air Jordans in the first four years. Instead, the line generated $126 million in its first year. Since then, more than 30 Air Jordan silhouettes have been released, becoming a cornerstone of Jordan’s billion-dollar fortune.
As of October 2023, his yearly royalty check from Nike was worth $260 million, per Forbes.
How much has Michael Jordan donated to charity?
Michael Jordan before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Michael Jordan before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Jordan's largest single charitable commitment came in June 2020, when he pledged $100 million over 10 years through the Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan Family Foundation to support organizations focused on racial equality, social justice and expanded access to education.
In February 2023, Jordan made a record-setting $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish America in honor of his 60th birthday — the largest individual contribution in the foundation’s history.
He has also made major contributions to healthcare. As of February 2025, he has helped open four medical clinics serving uninsured patients in his home state of North Carolina, per the North Carolina Medical Society.