4. Off-Court Success
Entering the league as an 18-year-old in 2003, James could have been vulnerable to individuals who ended up leaving him broke or otherwise in debt. Instead, he’s made a series of deft moves away from the court, including endorsements, which has put him on course to his spoken goal of becoming a billionaire. He’s also branched out into television and movie production, while also appearing in the Amy Schumer comedy, “Trainwreck,” last year.
Jordan had previously parlayed his success on the court into becoming a sought-after pitchman for a wide variety of products. Companies like McDonalds, Gatorade and Hanes used him regularly, with Gatorade ads sparking the “Be Like Mike” campaign. He also found time to co-star will Bill Murray in the 1996 film, “Space Jam,” which grossed approximately $230 million.
Next: Rookie of the Year
