THE BIG BAD FIVE NET

MICHAEL JORDAN

NET WORTH: $2 2 BILLION

AGE: 60

RECORD: Jordan was the legendary shooting guard/point forward for the six-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards During his on-and-off 19-year career (1984-2003) he was NBA Finals MVP six times and NBA Most Valuable Player five times.

EMPIRE: Jordan's business activities are equally legendary, as the inspiration for Air Jordan sneakers (Nike), a film actor (Space Jam), and owner and head of the Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball franchise. He is one of the most effective product promoters in business history.

Lebron James

NET WORTH: $1 BILLION

AGE: 38

RECORD: James is a small forward/power forward, having played with three NBA championship teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers (with whom he is most associated ), the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers (current). Over his 20-year career, he has been NBA Finals MVP and NBA Most Valuable Player, both four times.

EMPIRE: James' lucrative playing contracts and endorsements have made him the first active NBA player to become a billionaire. He also owns SpringHill Entertainment, a burgeoning production company, and stakes in the Boston Red Sox and other sports teams

SPRING 2023

Magic Johnson

NET WORTH: $600 MILLION

AGE: 63

RECORD: Johnson's basketball career spanned a cumulative 14 years, wherein he was a point guard for the five-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Magic M7 Boras, a Swedish team He was NBA Finals MVP and NBA Most Valuable Player three times.

EMPIRE: Johnson owns Magic Johnson Entertainment, which produced his talk show, The Magic Hour, and Magic Johnson Enterprises, a conglomerate that includes a film studio, real estate, food and beverage franchises, and stakes in baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers and football's Washington Commanders

Kobe Bryant

NET WORTH: $600 MILLION*

AGE: 41**

RECORD: Shooting guard and small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2006), five-time NBA champions NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010) and NBA Most Valuable Player (2008), two-time NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007)

EMPIRE: Bryant's basketball achievements have made him a popular endorsement choice. Adidas alone paid him $48 million in a six-year endorsement deal After retiring, he branched out into rap music performing and acting His diverse portfolio included a sports-branding firm, Kobe Inc.; a media company, Granity Studios; and a venture capital firm, Bryant Stibel.

*at time of death, 2020

**Bryant was killed along with his daughter in a helicopter crash in California, Jan 26, 2020

BAVUAL 84

The Rise Of Black Quarterbacks

Two men who may be in the running to become the next sports moguls are Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts—the first two black starting quarterbacks to appear in a Super Bowl at the same time. The quarterback position is one of the most celebrated in football, and when the quarterbacks’ feet hit the field, they’re lining up to not only take the snap but often to lead their team and be the face of the franchise. Unfortunately, before Super Bowl LVII, only seven black quarterbacks had played in the Super Bowl:

● Doug Williams–Won Super Bowl XXII

● Steve McNair–Lost Super Bowl XXXIV

● Donovan McNabb–Lost Super Bowl XXXIX

● Colin Kaepernick–Lost Super Bowl XLVII

● Russell Wilson–Won Super Bowl XLVII and Lost Super Bowl XLIX

● Cam Newton–Lost Super Bowl 50

● Patrick Mahomes–Won Super Bowl LIV, Lost Super Bowl LV

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL

NET WORTH: $400 MILLION

AGE: 51

RECORD: Center on six NBA basketball teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Voted MBA Most Valuable Player (2000) and NBA Finals MVP (20002002) among many other accolades over a 19-year career (1992-2011).

EMPIRE: Since his retirement, O'Neal has found success in a variety of roles - media personality, rap composer, EdD, reserve police officer, actor, video game promoter, documentary subject, advertising pitchman, pro wrestler and mixed martial artist. His fortune is derived from groundfloor investments in tech companies such as Google, real estate development, food and health club franchises, and cryptocurrency