Michael Jordan, often known as MJ, is a businessman and former professional basketball and baseball player. Dominating the NBA from 1984-2003, he secured six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. He played a key role in globally popularizing the sport and the NBA in the 80s and 90s, becoming a global icon. As of 2025, he is also the world's richest athlete.
On February 17, 1963, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, later known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was born. He is also known by his initials MJ.
In 1968, Michael Jordan's family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina.
In the 1969–70 NBA season, Willis Reed completed the first sweep of the MVP awards in the All-Star Game, regular season, and NBA Finals.
Since 1976, the year of the ABA–NBA merger, Jordan and Pippen are the only two players to win six NBA Finals playing for one team.
In 1980, Michael Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in cultural geography.
As a senior, Michael Jordan was selected for the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points.
In 1982, as a freshman, Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which he later described as a major turning point in his basketball career.
In 1982, as a freshman, Michael Jordan was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels' national championship team.
In 1983, Michael Jordan made his debut as a college player for the U.S. national basketball team at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, leading the team in scoring and winning the gold medal.
In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team in his sophomore season.
In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team and won a gold medal at the Pan American Games.
By November 1984, Michael Jordan was being compared to Julius Erving due to his talent in his first NBA season.
In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick.
In 1984, Michael Jordan left North Carolina a year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft.
In 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan, called the Air Jordan. One of his more popular commercials for the shoe involved Spike Lee playing the part of Mars Blackmon: Lee, as Blackmon, attempted to find the source of Jordan's abilities and became convinced that "it's gotta be the shoes".
In 1984, Nike introduced Air Jordan sneakers, endorsed by Michael Jordan, which became a major success.
Michael Jordan won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. men's basketball team in 1984.
During his rookie 1984–85 season, Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg and was voted an All-Star starter. Controversy arose before the 1985 NBA All-Star Game due to veteran players being upset by the attention he received, leading to a so-called "freeze-out".
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan established a single game playoff record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics, leading Larry Bird to describe him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan".
From 1986-87 to 2001-02, Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season.
In 1986, Michael Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.
Michael Jordan completely recovered in time for the 1986–87 season after breaking his foot in the third game of the 1985-86 season.
During the 1987–88 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring, averaging 35.0 ppg and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In 1987, Michael Jordan won one of his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships.
In 1988, Michael Jordan had one of his six seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1988, Michael Jordan was honored with both the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards.
In 1988, Michael Jordan won one of his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships.
In the 1988–89 season, Michael Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the field, along with 8.0 rpg and 8.0 apg.
During the 1989–90 season, Michael Jordan showed improvement in his three-point shooting, achieving a percentage of 37%.
The Bulls entered the 1989–90 season as a team on the rise, with their core group of Jordan and young improving players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, and under the guidance of new coach Phil Jackson.
On March 28, 1990, Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a 117–113 road win over the Cavaliers.
In 1990, Michael Jordan won his second MVP award with averages of 31.5 points per game on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game. The Bulls finished first in their division for the first time in sixteen years and set a franchise record with 61 regular season wins.
In 1990, Michael Jordan's automotive group acquired a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina.
In 1991, Karla Knafel claimed Michael Jordan was the father of her child and promised her $5 million for remaining silent. However, a DNA test showed that Jordan was not the father of the child.
In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Bulls achieved a 67–15 record, surpassing their franchise record from the 1990–91 season. Jordan also secured his second consecutive MVP award, averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game with a 52% shooting accuracy.
Since 1991, Michael Jordan has appeared in over 20 commercials for Gatorade, including the "Be Like Mike" commercials.
During 1992's Super Bowl XXVI, a Nike commercial featured Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball together.
During the 1992-93 season, Michael Jordan showed improvement in his three-point shooting, achieving a percentage of 35%.
In 1992, Michael Jordan had one of his six seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1992, Michael Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team during his NBA career and won the Tournament of the Americas and Summer Olympics gold medals—while also being undefeated.
In the 1997–98 season, The Bulls won the Eastern Conference Championship for a third straight season, including surviving a seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals; it was the first time Jordan had played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the New York Knicks.
Michael Jordan won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. men's basketball team in 1992.
On July 23, 1993, James R. Jordan Sr., Michael Jordan's father, was murdered at a highway rest area in Lumberton, North Carolina. Two teenagers carjacked his Lexus and dumped his body in a South Carolina swamp.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, citing a loss of desire to play. He later stated that the murder of his father three months prior contributed to his decision.
During the 1993 NBA playoffs, Michael Jordan was seen gambling in Atlantic City. That same year, author Richard Esquinas claimed he had won $1.25 million from Jordan on the golf course.
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Bulls won their third NBA championship against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Jordan averaged a Finals-record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series and became the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their third consecutive NBA title, completing a three-peat. Jordan then abruptly retired before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball.
In 1993, Michael Jordan retired, resulting in rumors of secret suspension for gambling. In 1995 and 2006 David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, denied the rumors.
On November 1, 1994, Michael Jordan's No. 23 was retired by the Bulls in a ceremony that included the erection of a permanent sculpture known as The Spirit outside the new United Center.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from 3 points.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a replacement player during the Major League Baseball strike and returned to the Bulls midway through the 1994–95 season.
On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA with a two-word press release: "I'm back."
On March 28, 1995, Michael Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, marking a significant moment in his comeback to the NBA.
From 1995, Michael Jordan's automotive group had a Lincoln-Mercury dealership.
In 1995 Michael Jordan was motivated by the playoff defeat and he trained aggressively for the 1995–96 season.
In 1995, David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, denied that Michael Jordan's 1993 retirement was a secret suspension by the league for gambling.
In 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after a brief stint in Minor League Baseball.
In the September 1996 issue of Sport, Michael Jordan was named the greatest athlete of the past 50 years.
In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fourth NBA championship and a then-record 72 regular season wins.
In 1996, Michael Jordan was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
In the 1996–97 season, the Bulls stood at a 69–11 record but ended the season by losing their final two games to finish the year 69–13, missing out on a second consecutive 70-win season.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from 3 points.
From 1997–98 NBA season, an NBA Entertainment crew shot about 500 hours of candid film of Jordan's and his teammates' off-court activities which was used in the documentary The Last Dance in 2020.
In 1997, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fifth NBA championship.
In 1997, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan, despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus (known as "The Flu Game"), scored 38 points, including the game-winning three-pointer. He also received his fifth Finals MVP award.
On June 14, 1998, In Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan steals the ball from Malone.
By 1998, the season of his Finals-winning shot against the Jazz, Michael Jordan was well known throughout the league as a clutch performer.
During the 1998 labor dispute, Michael Jordan told Washington Wizards then-owner Abe Pollin: "If you can't make a profit, you should sell your team."
In 1998, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their sixth NBA championship.
In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary titled "Michael Jordan to the Max" about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs.
In September 2022, Jordan's jersey in which he played the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time, citing Phil Jackson's expiring contract and the looming departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
In January 1999, Michael Jordan claimed that he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game.
In December 1999, the Associated Press voted Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player of the 20th century and placed him second to Babe Ruth in its list of 20th century athletes.
In 1999, Michael Jordan was named the 20th century's greatest North American athlete by ESPN.
On January 19, 2000, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.
In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary titled "Michael Jordan to the Max" about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs.
On September 25, 2001, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards and stated his intention to donate his salary to relief efforts for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
During the 2001 NBA Finals, Phil Jackson compared Michael Jordan's dominance to Shaquille O'Neal, noting that Jordan had to overcome fouls to perform.
From 2001, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, which raised money for various charities.
In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.
In 2001-02, Michael Jordan injured his right knee, ending a long streak of not missing four or more games while active for a full season since 1986-87.
In the summer of 2001, Michael Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback, this time with his new team, inspired by the NHL comeback of his friend Mario Lemieux the previous winter.
On January 4, 2002, Michael and Juanita Jordan filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, but reconciled shortly thereafter.
In 2002, Michael Jordan was selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team and named the greatest athlete in ACC history.
In 2002, while not technically Director of Basketball Operations, Michael Jordan may have influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse during his time with the Wizards.
In 2002-03, with the recognition that it would be Jordan's final season, tributes were paid to him throughout the NBA.
On February 21, 2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old to score 43 points in an NBA game, marking a significant achievement during his time with the Washington Wizards.
On April 16, 2003, Michael Jordan played in his final NBA game in Philadelphia, scoring 13 points and receiving a standing ovation from teammates, opponents, and fans.
On May 7, 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Michael Jordan from his role as Director of Basketball Operations.
Since 2004, Michael Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional closed-course motorcycle road racing team.
On June 15, 2006, Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the team's second-largest shareholder and taking control of basketball operations.
On July 21, 2006, a judge determined that Michael Jordan did not owe Karla Knafel $5 million in a breach of contract claim. The claim originated from an alleged affair and promise of payment for silence.
On December 29, 2006, Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy's divorce was finalized, with Juanita receiving a $168 million settlement.
In 2006, David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, again denied that Michael Jordan's 1993 retirement was a secret suspension by the league for gambling.
In 2006, Michael Jordan became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats).
In 2008, the Make-A-Wish Foundation named Michael Jordan its Chief Wish Ambassador.
Since 2008, Michael Jordan's yearly income from endorsements is estimated at over $40 million.
Between June 2009 and June 2010, Michael Jordan earned $55 million, as reported by Forbes in June 2010.
In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened a Michael Jordan exhibit.
In September 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame, selecting David Thompson to present him. His emotional reaction during his speech when Jordan began to cry was captured by Associated Press photographer Stephan Savoia and would later go viral on social media as the "Crying Jordan" meme.
In 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career.
In 2009, Michael Jordan's Lincoln-Mercury dealership closed.
In February 2010, it was reported that Michael Jordan was seeking majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats. On February 27, an agreement was reached with Johnson, pending NBA approval. On March 17, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's purchase, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team, and the league's only African-American majority owner.
In June 2010, Forbes ranked Michael Jordan as the 20th most powerful celebrity in the world, noting he earned $55 million between June 2009 and June 2010.
In 2010, Michael Jordan bought a controlling interest in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2010, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, also known as "The Dream Team".
In 2010, Ron Shelton, director of Jordan Rides the Bus, stated that research convinced him that the rumors about secret suspension for gambling were nonsense.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, The New York Times wrote that Michael Jordan led a group of hardline owners who wanted to cap the players' share of basketball-related income.
During the 2011–12 NBA season that was shortened to 66 games by the lockout, the Bobcats posted a 7–59 record and closed out the season with a 23-game losing streak, resulting in the worst winning percentage in NBA history at .106. Before the next season, Jordan expressed his frustration.
In 2012, Michael Jordan listed his Highland Park mansion for sale.
On April 27, 2013, Michael Jordan married Yvette Prieto at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
On November 30, 2013, it was announced that Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto were expecting their first child together.
In 2013, Michael Jordan granted his 200th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2013, the Charlotte Bobcats became known as the Hornets.
Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional closed-course motorcycle road racing team, competed with two Suzukis in the premier Superbike championship sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) until the end of the 2013 season.
On February 11, 2014, Yvette Prieto gave birth to identical twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.
In June 2014, Michael Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire after increasing his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2014, Michael Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history.
Until 2014, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, which raised money for various charities.
In 2015, Michael Jordan's income was estimated at $110 million from his Jordan Brand income and endorsements, the most of any retired athlete.
In the 2015–16 season, the Golden State Warriors broke the Bulls' record of 72–10, which was set in the 1995–96 season.
In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Michael Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2016, President Barack Obama honored Michael Jordan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2017, Forbes designated Michael Jordan as the athlete with the highest career earnings.
In 2017, Michael Jordan donated $7 million to fund two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 2018, Michael Jordan's steakhouse in New York City's Grand Central Terminal closed.
As of 2019, Michael Jordan had raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
During the 2019 NBA offseason, Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, retaining the majority for himself, as well as the role of chairman.
In 2019, Michael Jordan gave $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian.
On June 5, 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Michael Jordan and his brand announced a joint donation of $100 million over 10 years to organizations dedicated to racial equality, social justice, and education.
In August 2020, the shoes Michael Jordan wore during the backboard-shattering dunk game on August 26, 1985, were auctioned for $615,000, a record for a pair of sneakers.
In September 2020, Michael Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.
On September 21, 2020, Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced they would be fielding a NASCAR Cup Series team with Bubba Wallace driving, beginning competition in the 2021 season.
In 2020, Michael Jordan was the focus of the Emmy-winning documentary series The Last Dance.
In 2020, The Last Dance, a 10-part TV documentary about Michael Jordan's life, debuted on ESPN.
In February 2021, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, with a $10 million donation.
In October 2021, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
In 2021, Michael Jordan was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
In 2021, a ticket stub from Michael Jordan's NBA debut game on October 26, 1984, sold at auction for $264,000.
In the 2021 season, 23XI Racing began competition in the NASCAR Cup Series with Bubba Wallace driving car No. 23.
In September 2022, Michael Jordan's jersey in which he played the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
In December 2022, the NBA unveiled a new MVP trophy, named in Michael Jordan's honor, to be awarded beginning with the 2022–23 season, replacing the original trophy named after Maurice Podoloff.
As late as 2022, NBA Finals television ratings had not returned to the level reached during Michael Jordan's last championship-winning season.
In 2022, 23XI Racing added a second car, No. 45, driven by Kurt Busch.
Michael Jordan appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Captain, which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.
In August 2023, Michael Jordan finalized the sale of his majority stake in the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner, although he kept a minority stake. The sale was officially completed for approximately $3 billion.
In 2023, 23XI Racing fielded a third car, No. 67, driven by Travis Pastrana in the Daytona 500.
In 2023, Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for his 60th birthday.
In 2023, Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
A 2024 study by Tom Haberstroh found that there were games where Jordan was often credited with steals that could not have happened.
In 2024, Michael Jordan funded the opening of another Novant Health Clinic in Wilmington.
It is reported that Juanita received a $168 million settlement, which is equivalent to $262 million in 2024.
In May 2025, Michael Jordan was announced as a special contributor for the NBA on NBC commentary team.
23XI Racing acquired a third charter from the defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, the No. 35 driven by Riley Herbst beginning in 2025.
As of 2025, Forbes estimated Michael Jordan's net worth at $3.8 billion, making him one of the richest celebrities.
As of 2025, Michael Jordan's net worth is estimated to be $3.8 billion, making him one of the world's richest celebrities.
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