NBA fans often compare Michael Jordan to other NBA legends in fiery debates. Greatest of all time player debates are very common among NBA fans, with fans referring to players like Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and others as ‘GOATs’. Alongside being a ‘GOAT’ in the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan is a very successful businessman off the court.
He retired nearly two decades ago, but still rakes in the big bucks. Elite NBA players often receive multi-million dollar contracts, and Jordan was no exception to this. However, he also invested smartly and still earns money through mega brand endorsement deals. One person to benefit from his vast fortune is his ex-wife, Juanita Jordan.
Who is Juanita Jordan?
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Juanita Jordan was born as Juanita Vanoy in Chicago, Illinois on June 13, 1959. Her parents, John Vanoy and Dorothy L, raised her on Chicago, Illinois’ south side. She had quite a large family with five siblings: Gwendolyn Hicks, Jacqueline Rogers, Rhonda Armstrong, Bernetta B. Vanoy, and Margaret Vanoy.
Juanita was a student at Christian Fencer High School and then studied college at the American University.
Juanita met then-Chicago Bulls rookie Michael Jordan in a Chicago restaurant in 1984 and got engaged to him in 1987. They got married two years later, on September 2, 1989, at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The duo have three children together: two sons and one daughter. The eldest Jeffrey Michael Jordan was born in 1988 before his parents’ marriage, Marcus James Jordan (born 1990), and the youngest Jasmine Michael Jordan was born in 1992.
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How did Juanita Jordan acquire her fortune?
Michael Jordan’s net worth is estimated to be a whopping $2.2 Billion. The Chicago Bulls legend raked in $93.7 million in salary during his NBA career. He still makes money through various investments, business ventures, and brand endorsements. Jordan reached the billionaire mark with his investment stake as an owner in an NBA franchise called the Charlotte Hornets. When Juanita was still married to Michael Jordan, she shared in his wealth.
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Cracks in Juanita and Jordan‘s marriage appeared in 2002 when she filed for divorce. The couple eventually reconciled, and she withdrew the petition. However, in 2006, the pair announced their final separation, with Jordan paying Juanita a divorce settlement worth $168 million. The settlement includes a few properties and varied assets. In 2006, the settlement was then the largest celebrity settlement of all time.
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Her current net worth due to the settlement is an estimated $200 million. This huge net worth places her above a few current and former NBA stars. Some NBA stars like Kevin Garnett, Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Gary Payton, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, and others have lower estimated net worths than Juanita Jordan. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Juanita Jordan found a pot of gold with her divorce settlement.
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