He was cut from his high school team — then became the greatest basketball player who ever lived. 🏀 At 63, Michael Jordan doesn’t own a championship team anymore… he owns a NASCAR team. And his shoe brand makes more money than most NBA franchises. From Wilmington to a $4.3 billion empire — this is the updated story.
Michael Jordan Then 🌱
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when he was young.
His first big basketball moment was actually a failure. As a sophomore at Laney High School, he was cut from the varsity team. He cried — then got to work.
He grew four inches that summer. By senior year, he was a McDonald’s All-American. The University of North Carolina signed him.
At UNC, he became a legend in one shot. With 17 seconds left in the 1982 NCAA championship game against Georgetown, Jordan sank the game-winner. He was a freshman.
In 1984, the Chicago Bulls drafted him third overall. The photo above shows him as a rookie — 21 years old, wearing number 23, about to change sports forever.
The Middle: Six Rings, Three Goodbyes 👑
The NBA didn’t know what hit it. Jordan won Rookie of the Year in 1985, then averaged 37.1 points a game the next season. His dunks broke the backboard of gravity itself.
The titles came in waves. The first three-peat: 1991, 1992, 1993. Every Finals MVP, every time. Then, at his peak, he walked away.
His father had been murdered in 1993. Jordan retired to play baseball — a promise to his dad. He came back 18 months later with two words: “I’m back.”
The second three-peat followed: 1996, 1997, 1998. “The Last Shot” over Utah’s Bryon Russell in 1998 is still the most replayed moment in NBA history.
He retired again. Then came back again — this time with the Washington Wizards (2001–03). Like Magic Johnson, Jordan found that leaving the game was harder than dominating it.
Off the court, the empire grew. The Air Jordan line with Nike turned sneakers into culture. “Space Jam” (1996) made him a movie star. Two Olympic gold medals made him a global icon.
By the time he truly retired in 2003, he was already the most famous athlete on earth. The question was what a man like that does for an encore.
Michael Jordan Now 📈
Today, Michael Jordan is 63 — and richer than ever. Forbes puts his net worth near $4.3 billion. His entire NBA salary added up to about $90 million. The brand did the rest.
The Jordan Brand is a monster. It pulled in about $7 billion in sales in Nike’s 2026 fiscal year — and Jordan himself collects close to $300 million a year in royalties.
He sold the Charlotte Hornets in 2023. After buying the team for $275 million in 2010, he sold the majority stake at a valuation near $3 billion. He kept a minority piece.
His main stage now is a racetrack. Since 2020, he’s co-owned 23XI Racing with driver Denny Hamlin. In October 2024, the team took NASCAR to court in an antitrust lawsuit over the sport’s charter system.
The case settled in December 2025 — with permanent charters for the teams, a landmark win. Afterward, Jordan told NASCAR’s president: “I’m all in. Let’s grow this thing together.”
Then came the trophy. On February 15, 2026, Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500 for 23XI Racing — the team’s first win in NASCAR’s biggest race. Jordan celebrated in victory lane.
“It feels like I won a championship,” he told ESPN. He joked he’d get himself a size-13 Daytona 500 ring for his 63rd birthday.
He’s a stakeholder in Sportradar and DraftKings too, sharing a stage with both CEOs at a betting-industry summit in Lisbon in September 2026. Like Shaquille O’Neal, Jordan turned fame into a diversified fortune — only his is on a different level entirely.
At home, life is quieter. He’s been married to Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto since 2013. Their twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel, are now 12. His three older children — Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine — are all grown.
From a kid cut from his high school team to a $4.3 billion owner of a NASCAR team. From number 23 on a court to number 23 on a race car.
Michael Jordan didn’t just win basketball. He built a business empire that outscored his playing career — and at 63, he’s still adding rings. Just different ones. 🏆
Quick Answers ❓
How old is Michael Jordan now?
He is 63. He was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, and turned 63 in February 2026.
How many championships did Michael Jordan win?
Six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (1991–93 and 1996–98), winning Finals MVP all six times.
What is Michael Jordan’s net worth?
Forbes estimates it near $4.3 billion. His Jordan Brand royalties alone bring in roughly $300 million a year.
Does Michael Jordan still own the Hornets?
No — he sold his majority stake in 2023 at a valuation near $3 billion but kept a minority share.
What does Michael Jordan do now?
He co-owns 23XI Racing in NASCAR (2026 Daytona 500 winner with Tyler Reddick), holds stakes in Sportradar and DraftKings, and focuses on business and philanthropy.
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