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When Michael Jordan Was Embarrassed by NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky For Being a Cheap Tipper

Published 01/08/2021, 3:32 PM EST

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Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player to play the game of basketball. The impact that he had is still felt to this day. Unsurprisingly along the way, he made a ton of money and continues to make it to this day.

His Jordan brand has propelled him to the status of a billionaire. Also, allowing him to become a majority owner in the NBA. In addition, with a controlling stake in the Charlotte Hornets, his net worth is $1.6 Billion, according to Forbes.

Hence, it is astonishing to hear that one of the richest athletes of all-time is not so generous when it comes to the tipping department. That is, according to Rich Strafella, a VP and long-time gaming exec at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

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via Imago

He recounts a social get-together that the Chicago Bulls legend was having with fellow GOAT Wayne Gretzky. The Canadian won all that was there to be won in Ice Hockey. And amassed a personal fortune that was not too shabby itself.

So, when the two were having a blast at the Hard Rock Hotel, MJ bought out his no-tipping antics. Though, this time that earned a strong rebuke from ‘The Great One’ as narrated by Rich Strafella –

“I remember a night when Wayne Gretzky insulted Michael Jordan at the table. It was a private salon game. Michael had ordered a drink from the cocktail waitress, and he gave her a five-dollar chip.

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“Wayne took it off the cocktail waitress’s tray, gave it back to Michael, grabbed a hundred-dollar chip from Michael’s stack, and put it on the cocktail waitress’s tray. Then he said, ‘That’s how we tip in Las Vegas, Michael’.”

Not the first time Michael Jordan faced this music

Jordan’s friend-turned-foe Charles Barkley also spilled the beans on Jordan while he was in conversation with Conan O’Brien.

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When asked to name the most miserly celebrities he hung out with, Chuck did not shy away from taking Michael’s name while also shaming his first mate, Scottie Pippen.

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Written by:

Bharat Aggarwal

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Bharat Aggarwal is a sports analyst for EssentiallySports, covering Formula 1 and NBA. A Delhi University graduate, Bharat has multi-year experience in sports writing, having closely worked with the content strategy aspect as well. Bharat Aggarwal supports Manchester United, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Dirk Nowitzki, Sachin Tendulkar, Ayrton Senna, Kristaps Porzingis, and Dallas Mavericks.
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