Get All Access for $5/mo

Billionaire Michael Jordan Donates Record-Breaking $10 Million to Make-A-Wish Foundation Jordan has been involved with the organization for many years, with his first "wish" to a child occurring in 1989.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Getty Images

Michael Jordan has broken yet another record, except this one has nothing to do with his legendary basketball career.

In honor of his 60th birthday, the athlete donated an astounding $10 million to the nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation, marking the largest donation ever made by an individual donor to the organization in its 43-year history.

"For the past 34 years, it's been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids," Jordan said in a press release. "Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration. I can't think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true."

Jordan has been involved with the organization for a long time —the first "wish" he granted was in 1989.

Related: John Cena Grants 650 Wishes For Make-A-Wish

According to Make-A-Wish, he is one of the most requested celebrity wish granters of all time. In 2008, Jordan was even named "Chief Wish Ambassador" as a result of all of his contributions to the organization over the years.

"Michael using his birthday as a chance to make history for Make-A-Wish speaks to the quality of his character and his loyal dedication to making life better for children with critical illnesses," said Make-A-Wish America CEO and President Leslie Motter in a statement. "We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true."

Though Jordan amassed wealth during his NBA career, the majority of his earnings have come from his ownership stake in the NBA's Charlotte Hornets franchise and lucrative loyalties earned from Nike Jordan products (an estimated $60 million a year) amid other endorsements.

Jordan's net worth is an estimated $2.2 billion.

Related: Michael Jordan Jersey Sold at Auction for Record $10 Million

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business Solutions

Still Paying for Adobe Acrobat? Try This Instead.

Everything you need in a PDF editor—minus the subscription.

Data & Recovery

Say Hello to the Secure Cloud Storage Alternative Entrepreneurs Need

Secure, scalable, and cost-effective: Internxt is the smarter choice for cloud storage.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

How Franchising Can Alleviate Entrepreneurial Imposter Syndrome

The franchise model can alleviate entrepreneurial imposter syndrome and provide an alternative path towards professional independence.