It is no secret that Michael Jordan is one of the most successful sports stars in history, both in terms of his achievements on the court and the wealth he has generated from his career.

Jordan is widely viewed as the greatest ever basketball player, and arguably the all-time sporting GOAT.

He won six NBA Championships during a legendary spell with the Chicago Bulls between 1984 and 1998 and was also named the NBA’s MVP in five different seasons, featuring in the All-Star game 14 times.

Jordan was a highly marketable athlete during his pro career and has gone on to become a hugely successful businessman following his retirement, amassing a massive fortune largely thanks to his lucrative shoe deal with Nike.

But how does his wealth compare with other NBA legends? Hello magazine have compiled a list of the top six richest basketball icons – and none of the other five get close to Jordan.

Sixth on the list is four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, who has forged a successful career in broadcasting and the entertainment industry since his retirement.

The former center, who played for six different NBA teams during his pro career, is estimated to have a net worth of around $500 million (£378m), according to celebritynetworth.com.

His lucrative deals with the likes of Reebok, Pepsi, Icy Hot, and Buick netted him well over $200 million (£158m) in endorsements during his playing days, while he now works as sports analyst for Inside the NBA.

Shaq is estimated to have the same net worth as the next man on the list, Vinnie Johnson – who is reported to have earned just $6m (£4.5m) from his playing career, which was largely spent with the Detroit Pistons.

After retirement, Johnson branched out into business, establishing The Piston Group – an automotive company that is now a supplier to major automobile companies including Ford and General Motors.

Next on the list is former Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers star Ulysses ‘Junior’ Bridgeman. celebritynetworth.com estimate he has a net worth of around $600 million (£454m), with the vast majority of his wealth coming after retirement.

Bridgeman initially invested in Wendy’s fast food franchises before founding Bridgeman Foods Inc, who now supply bottles for The Coca-Cola Company. In 2020, he expanded his business empire, with his company purchasing the magazines Ebony and Jet.

Third on the list is the wealthiest active NBA player, LeBron James, who is estimated to have a net worth of around $1.2bn (£910m), according to Forbes.

While he receives a reported annual base salary of around $40m (£30m) from the Los Angeles Lakers, it is his business interests away from the court that have made him a billionaire.

In addition to lucrative brand deals with the likes of Nike, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, James has made a habit of taking equity in other brands he’s worked with. He is a co-owner of Beats, Blaze Pizza, Fenway Sports Group and even Premier League club Liverpool.

Michael Jordan is the richest sports star in history (Image: Getty)

Second on the list is NBA legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, who spent his entire pro career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Forbes estimate he has the same net worth as James at around $1.2bn (£910m).

He amassed a major percentage of his fortunate through his company Magic Johnson Enterprises, which invested in entertainment and movie theatre spaces and also secured a lucrative partnership with Starbucks. His wealth later exploded when he purchased a majority ownership stake in EquiTrust Life Insurance Company in 2015.

Top of the list, unsurprisingly, is Jordan. One of the most marketable athletes in history, Jordan had sponsorship deals with Hanes, Coca-Cola, Wheaties, Gatorade and McDonald’s during his pro career.

It was his hugely successful partnership with Nike on the Air Jordan shoe made him one of the highest-paid sports stars, while the sale of his majority stake in NBA side Charlotte Hornets (formerly Bobcats) in 2023 made him a multi-billionaire.

As a result of his shrewd business decisions, Forbes estimate Jordan now has a mind-blowing net worth of around $3.2bn (£2.4bn) – making him the richest sports star in the world.