MICHAEL JORDAN – EST. $1.6 BILLION

Michael Jordan’s fame has stuck with him even after he retired from playing professional basketball in 2003. As one of the greatest athletes of all-time in the NBA, Jordan’s popularity also comes with a massive amount of net worth. In fact, he has been a multi-millionaire in his playing years. As if this was not enough, the basketball legend’s fortune continued to pour in even after he hanged his jersey. Jordan inked partnerships with big brands such as Nike, where he earns over $100 million in royalties. In 2014, Jordan was welcomed into the billionaire’s club with $1.6 billion of estimated worth. He is the first athlete in the world who reached this status.

Jordan juggles his wealth through proper investment planning. The superstar has multiple real-estate properties and luxury cars. What boosted his fortune was his NBA franchise of Charlotte Hornets, where he serves as the owner and the chairman. Its value rose to $1.4 billion, which pushed Jordan’s value to a billion. The team is now worth more than $1.5 billion, with 97% of the equity going to the legendary basketball player bank accounts.