Jordan Still Scores with Nike After 25 years

Photo by Google Images. Jordan makes his way up the court with the ball and his new signature sneakers.

Michael Jordan is scoring as many points in the game of endorsements as he did in the game of basketball. Earning $33 million a year from endorsements alone, the sports icon is worth over $500 million, according to Forbes.

Gatorade, McDonald’s, General Mills, and Hanes have all been endorsed by Jordan, but perhaps his biggest success in endorsements comes from his endorsement deal with Nike.

This season marks 25 years since Jordan and Nike teamed up to create Air Jordans.

With a signature shoe for such a prized player, Nike’s sales went through the roof. Nike’s total revenue was about $900 million in 1984. By 1997, when Jordan was closing in on the fifth of his sixNBA titles, revenue increased to $9.19 billion, according to Dan Wetzel.

“He’s the single most influential endorser that will ever live,” said John Paul Vaccaro, who pitched the idea of signing Jordan back when it was unthinkable.

Even now, 25 years after he first signed up with Nike, Jordan has his own brand at Nike, and sales continue. With more than 20 models of signature shoes, Jordan continues to earn millions in endorsements from Nike alone.