Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan earned $93.8 million across his entire NBA career. From a single shoe deal he signed at 21, he has earned more than $2 billion. In October 1984, three brands wanted to put a Jordan logo on a sneaker. Adidas was his personal favorite. Converse already had Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on its roster. Nike was the underdog basketball brand. Jordan's mother Deloris and his agent David Falk had won non-negotiable demand on every offer. A royalty on every shoe sold, not a flat fee. Adidas and Converse refused. Nike said yes. The deal was six years, $2.5 million, plus a cut of every Air Jordan that ever shipped. Nike's internal model projected $3 million in revenue across the first three years.