Advertisement

Michael Jordan is a billionaire

michael jordan bobcats owner
michael jordan bobcats owner

Jonathan Daniel/Getty IMages Michael Jordan has been added to the Forbes list of billionaires.

He's now the 513th-richest person in the United States with a net worth of an even $1.0 billion.

The skyrocketing values of NBA franchises is the main reason Jordan broke the $1 billion mark.

He owns the Charlotte Hornets, which saw its value increase from $410 million last year to $725 million this year after the Los Angeles Clippers' $2 billion sale to Steve Ballmer.

Jordan's stake in the team is worth $500 million, according to Forbes.

Jordan bought the team for $275 million in 2010. That is looking like a wise investment, especially considering the league's massive new TV deal with ESPN and Turner. In the deal, which begins in 2016, the networks will pay the NBA an average of $2.66 billion per year. They paid about $930 million per year under the old deal. That works out to an extra $57 million in revenue per year for MJ's Hornets.

Jordan bought the team when franchise values were stagnating. They have since exploded:

NBA Franchise Values Chart
NBA Franchise Values Chart

BusinessInsider.com

The rest of Jordan's worth comes from his Nike deal, which earned him $90 million in 2013 alone.

NOW WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid



More From Business Insider