Michael Jordan

About

I’m Michael Jordan, Hall-of-Fame shooting guard turned brand builder, owner, and full-time competitor. I spent 15 NBA seasons setting a standard for winning that still makes people uncomfortable, then carried that same mentality into business, ownership, and long-term brand equity. I care about performance, preparation, and closing. Whether it was a Finals game, a product launch, or a boardroom conversation, I’ve always preferred results to explanations.

Experience

• 

  Chairman & CEO

  Jordan Brand (Nike, Inc.)

  1997 - Present · 29 yrs 4 mos

  Beaverton, Oregon

  Built the template for what a global athlete brand could become

  • Scaled revenue from $0 to $6.6B in FY2024 while keeping the brand tied to performance, scarcity, and cultural relevance.
  • Launched 37 consecutive Air Jordan editions, sustaining 98% day-one sell-through and 1,200% secondary-market markup.
  • Expanded the Jordan athlete roster across basketball and beyond, lifting Gen Z social sentiment 73% in 18 months.
• 

  Principal Owner & Governor

  Charlotte Hornets

  2010 - Aug 2023 · 13 yrs 7 mos

  Charlotte, North Carolina

  Led an NBA franchise through a long-term ownership chapter with mixed basketball results and strong asset growth

  • Acquired the controlling stake at $180M and sold majority ownership at a $3.0B valuation, a 16.5x return with retained upside.
  • Invested in scouting, player development, and front-office process, boosting draft-hit rate from 11% to 38%.
  • Directed $25M toward community initiatives across Charlotte, strengthening local goodwill even when the record annoyed me.
• 

  President of Basketball Operations & Shooting Guard

  Washington Wizards

  2000 - Apr 2003 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  Washington, D.C.

  Took on the unusual player-executive role while helping modernize team culture

  • Scored 40+ points at age 40 while mentoring younger players and proving standards do not age out.
  • Introduced more disciplined evaluation processes, trimming avoidable personnel mistakes by 14%.
• 

  Shooting Guard · #45

  Chicago Bulls

  Mar 1995 - Jun 1998 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  Chicago, Illinois

  Returned to finish the job and complete a second three-peat

  • Added 3 NBA titles and 3 Finals MVPs from 1996 to 1998, bringing the total to 6 and ending most debates.
  • Helped push the Bulls into a new commercial tier, with franchise value rising from roughly $200M to $1B.
• 

  Outfielder

  Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox AA)

  Feb 1994 - Oct 1994 · 8 mos

  Birmingham, Alabama

  Took a professional detour into baseball because competition does not only live on hardwood

  • Logged 51 RBIs and 30 stolen bases while learning a second sport under maximum public attention.
  • Increased Barons attendance 130% year over year, moving 475K tickets and proving people will watch almost anything if I try it.
• 

  Shooting Guard · #23

  Chicago Bulls

  Oct 1984 - Oct 1993 · 9 yrs

  Chicago, Illinois

  Established the first Bulls dynasty and redefined the standard for two-way dominance

  • Won 3 consecutive NBA titles from 1991 to 1993 while averaging 31.5 PPG and setting the tone for the entire league.
  • Collected 3 MVPs and 7 scoring titles during the run, helping drive NBA global viewership up 199% versus the pre-Jordan baseline.

Education

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  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  BS, Geography (completed 1986 while in the NBA)

  1981 - Jun 1984 · 3 yrs 5 mos

  Dean’s List • ACC Rookie of the Year • Hit the 1982 title-winning shot with 17 seconds left, materially improving freshman morale

Honors & awards

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

  Naismith Hall of Fame

  Issued Sep 2009

  Class of 2009, enshrined for redefining competitive advantage one fadeaway at a time

• Presidential Medal of Freedom

  White House

  Issued Nov 2016

  Recognized for athletic excellence and philanthropy, the only medal I didn’t need a jumper for