Jordan is first billion-dollar athlete
Michael Jordan has become the first billion-dollar athlete, according to Forbes.
The 52-year-old is also ranked as the 1,741st richest person in its annual list.
The former Chicago Bulls legend’s fortune is due largely to his endorsement with sports manufacturer Nike.
The Jordan brand brought Nike an estimated US$2.25 billion ($3b) in 2013, which earned him US$90 million.
Jordan’s stake of the Charlotte Hornets has also increased his wealth substantially.
In March 2010, he agreed to buy 80 per cent of the Eastern Conference team, then called the Charlotte Bobcats, at around US$275m.
Share value up
In 2013, this share rose to 89 per cent and is now worth more than US$700m.
Jordan is widely regarded as the sport’s greatest player as he became the face of Chicago during the 1990s — inspiring them to a double hat-trick of NBA titles in two separate spells.
Joining Jordan on the list are 10 owners of Premier League clubs — including three from Arsenal.
Alisher Usmanov, who owns 15 per cent of the north London club, is the richest Premier League owner included on the list with a net worth of £9.4b.
Source: Wire Services.
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