Retirement from the NBA has been very, very good for Michael Jordan’s wallet: the G.O.A.T. continues to cash in more than any other athlete, active or retired.
The owner of the Charlotte Hornets, according to Forbes, is expected to earn at least $30 million more than any other jock on the planet.
MJ’s endorsement portfolio remains unmatched:
The five-time NBA MVP made an estimated $110 million last year, excluding the Dominick’s verdict, to lead Forbes’ annual look at the highest-paid retired athletes. Jordan will likely make at least $30 million more than any other athlete in the world, active or retired, in 2016.
The power of Jordan is still growing 13 years after he last laced up his high tops. He now ranks first in Repucom’s CelebrityDBI, which tracks awareness and consumer sentiments across seven attributes for nearly 4,000 celebrities in the U.S. (he ranked No. 4 last year). Translation: Jordan right now is the most marketable person in the U.S. ahead of Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Bill Gates and every other celebrity you can name. He posts top 10 scores for aspiration, endorsement and influence. His awareness level is almost unmatched at 98%.
“The Jordan brand is always pushing the envelope,” says SportsOneSource analyst Andy Annunziata. “Jordan is the pinnacle product for the consumer who wants the best athletic footwear.” […] Nike has big plans for Jordan with the goal of doubling the brand’s annual revenue to $4.5 billion by 2020 in the company’s push to $50 billion in overall sales ($4.5 billion marks wholesale revenue and includes apparel and international markets). Nike will target women and categories beyond basketball like running in its push to double the brand’s size.
