Michael Jordan – Est. $1.6 Billion
Michael Jordan is considered to be the greatest NBA player of all time. He’s also the richest former professional athlete in the world. Jordan made less than $100 million while a player in the NBA, but has been a member of three-comma club since 2014. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $1.6 billion. Since he retired in 2003, he has built a lucrative career, predominantly through deals with Nike.
He just announced a $2 million donation of earnings from his recent ESPN docuseries “The Last Dance” to food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago. Before that, he pledged a donation of $100 million to ‘drive real impact for the Black Community’ amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests in June. In addition to using his wealth for philanthropic purposes, he also indulges in personal enjoyment: He owns sprawling estates, his own golf course, an NBA team, multiple restaurants, and interest in DraftKings.