Jordan’s lengthy partnership with Nike, which includes his own line of Jordan Brand shoes, has certainly played a part in maintaining his legacy, too – and it’s made him exceedingly wealthy. Even in the midst of a pandemic, Jordan’s hold on footwear has remained strong. Over the past 12 months, Jordan Brand shoes grossed more than $3.6 billion, a 15 percent year over year increase. Every other element of Nike’s product line – including running, other basketball, soccer, training, sportswear, and more – saw a decrease in revenue over the past 12 months. Yet Jordan Brand saw a double-digit increase. What’s more, if Jordan Brand is grossing $3.6 billion for Nike, it’s likely generating at least double that when shoes are sold through other retailers. That’s at least $7 billion in wholesale revenue. It’s safe to say the company is doing well for itself. But what about Jordan individually? Thanks to his agreement with Nike, Jordan earns a five percent royalty on all of Nike’s gross sales. A little quick math shows Jordan has made $180 million in royalties over the past 12 months. Last year, Jordan made $157 million. Perhaps it’s only fitting that he made $23 million more this year, to perfectly match his jersey number.
