It’s not a secret that being a major sports player can earn you a lot of money, but being one of the greatest ever to do it can take you to another level. Over the years, sporting personalities and successful business executives have shown how wealthy they are by acquiring their own private jets.
Arguably one of the greatest ever basketball players, eclipsing the likes of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan was the first-ever sports billionaire. First attracting attention in 1982, when he was a part of the University of North Carolina national championship basketball team, Jordan went on to win six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.
A living legend for his unrivaled skills in the 1990s, Jordan now lives a life of luxury while in retirement. Thanks to massive sponsorship deals with leading American brands such as Nike, Jordan has an estimated net worth of around $2 billion. While he has a lot of investments in various industries, the basketball legend spent a great deal of money to purchase a Gulfstream G550.
Flying in style for over five years
Michael Jordan has been flying with his private jet for about seven years. He acquired the Gulfstream G550 on August 17, 2016, to facilitate worldwide travel and make his personal flying life easier. Today, in addition to owning multiple businesses, Jordan has mansions and several luxury cars spread around the United States.
Michael Jordan's $60 million private jet is also wrapped in elephant print.
The plane holds 19 passengers and MJ had it renovated to include a bar and cigar station.
The tail number is N236MJ (#23, 6 titles, MJ). pic.twitter.com/FiLVRIVhtX
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 11, 2023
At the time of purchase, the private aircraft, registration N236MJ, was worth a whopping $61.5 million. While aircraft registration numbers are not usually intriguing, the one on Jordan’s plane is undoubtedly one to talk about as it has a special meaning. The N23 refers to his jersey number during his playing career. The number six references how many NBA national championship rings he won, and, as you may have guessed, MJ is for his initials.
When Jordan first took delivery of the plane, he had it repainted in North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team powder blue and white. However, it now features a unique grey, white, and black elephant print, as seen on Air Jordan sneakers. The tail section is completed with the iconic Jumpman logo, a silhouette of the retired NBA legend.
Jordan also made significant changes to the interior of the aircraft. It now features premium leather recliner seats, a bar and cigar station, a fine dining area, entertainment systems, a comfortable bedroom, and a private bathroom. Jordan has had several photographs snapped of him puffing a cigar over the decades, especially after a big win. So, it’s only natural he’d have a station for them on his het.
The basketball star also sourced the best furniture for his jet. According to TheRichest, the couch zone can transform into a bar configuration at the touch of a button!
According to Plane Logger, this unit was registered with Kraft Foods as N550KF in June 2006. The aircraft then joined Redbird Service’s holdings in March 2013, where it received registration N550MZ.
Gulfstream G550
The business aircraft is also modified to allow up to 12 hours of continuous flying without refueling. The initial long-range cruise altitude is between 40,000 (12,192 m) and 41,000 ft (12,496 m), while the hourly flight costs between $700 and $1,000. It rivals other luxury jets like the Bombardier Global 6000 and the Dassault Falcon 7X.
The G550 has a two-crew cockpit, while the cabin seats about 14 to 19 passengers. The cabin is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall, 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) wide, and 43 ft 11 in (13.39 m) long. However, given the cabin height, walking in the aircraft may be difficult for Mr Jordan, who stands at a staggering 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m).
Photo: Thor Jorgen Udvang / Shutterstock
The business aircraft is also modified to allow up to 12 hours of continuous flying without refueling. The initial long-range cruise altitude is between 40,000 and 41,000 feet, while the hourly flight costs between $700 and $1,000. It rivals other luxury jets like the Bombardier Global 6000 and the Dassault Falcon 7X.
Michael Jordan – or at least his Gulfstream – was @ATLairport this weekend pic.twitter.com/o2GJYgRH5B
— Matt Cochran (@MattCVaHi) July 11, 2022
The greatest in the game
Harnessing your full potential to become the greatest in any discipline requires a lot of handwork, focus, and determination. This hard work eventually pays off, as we have seen with Michael Jordan and other professionals. Outside of basketball, many other professionals have gone on to own private jets, highlighting the extent of their wealth.
One of the world’s greatest soccer stars, Cristiano Ronaldo, owns and travels with Gulfstream aircraft. His fleet comprises a $65.5 million Gulfstream G650 and a $25 million G200. However, the latter was reported to have been up for sale.
The football star has reportedly put one of his Gulfstream aircraft on the market.
Similar to Michael Jordan, pro golfer Tiger Woods owns a Gulfstream G550. The $58.6 million jet also has a customized cabin with a comfortable bedroom and a walk-in closet. Ultimately, successful sports stars and billionaires will choose to travel on their luxurious aircraft when possible, and Gulfstream jets have proved to be an excellent choice for many.
MJ will continue to fly in style for many years. After all, this summer, he sold his Charlotte Hornets stake for a whopping $3 billion valuation. He soon joined the Forbes 400, meaning he could expand his fleet of private jets if he wanted to, and it wouldn’t cause a dent in his wallet. Jordan remains a global force despite retiring from playing basketball for two decades.