feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

There are few celebrities who have had the entire world talking about them. One such celebrity is Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. During his time in the league, he was one of the biggest celebrities, let alone athletes in the world. And Michael Jordan once devised an ingenious way to capitalize it.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Wherever Jordan went, immense crowds followed suit. Naturally, fans would demand Jordan to give them his autograph whenever they got the chance to see him. Sometimes fans would even wave money at him in order to grab his attention! Interestingly enough, Jordan collected all the money he got from the autographs. However, he didn’t use it on himself.

ADVERTISEMENT

Michael Jordan made huge donations using money collected from fans

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was a star even before making it into the NBA. During his time in the league, he received huge endorsement deals alongside the salary he received for playing.

READ MORE: “We Could All Tell.. Michael Didn’t Totally Trust Scottie”: 5x NBA Champion Dennis Rodman Exposed Initial Struggles Between MJ and Pippen in 2020

Needless to say, he didn’t really need the money he got from fans. Collecting one-dollar bills and signing autographs, he would stuff the money into an envelope for St Jude’s, a hospital dedicated to treating kids with cancer.

According to a Sports Illustrated report from 1989, a teenage girl once tried to grab MJ’s attention by saying, “I have a twenty-dollar bill here, and I love you.” She also added, “And I understand basketball.”

article-image

Getty

Interestingly enough, Jordan achieved such levels of fame in 1989 when he was yet to win an NBA title. In fact, this was just after five years of his debut in the NBA.

Jordan has a number of philanthropic ventures under his belt

Four-time NBA champion Michael Jordan has made numerous donations both personally and as the chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. 

He is the Chief Wish Ambassador of the Make-A-Wish foundation since 2008 and has donated and brought in upwards of $5 million for the organization. Moreover, he also donated his entire 2000-01 season salary in order to support 9/11-related charities.

Since taking over the reins at the Hornets, Jordan and the team have given away more than $3 million for causes related to education, hunger, wellness, and the military. (Source: NBA)

WATCH THIS STORY: How Zion Williamson Once Weighing More Than 7 Ft Giant Shaquille O’Neal Nearly Ended His NBA Career

What is your favorite memory of Michael Jordan? Let us know in the comments down below.

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Satagni Sikder

ADVERTISEMENT