Michael Jordan mastered two parts of his career that few other athletes have ever done: marketing oneself during one's prime as a basketball player, and how to market oneself after retirement from the game.
The "during" was keynoted by leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s and winning a gold medal with the "Dream Team" at the '92 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. But permeating his own franchise beyond the box score is what keeps him iconic even to this day. Having not played a minute of pro basketball since 2003, his Nike Air Jordan shoes have sold hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
MJ hasn't been immune to the tabloid bug. His costly divorce, that strange paternity lawsuit, and gambling woes are well documented as are his passion for dancing with attractive women to cope with his divorce losses.
Despite all that, Jordan still carries clout today. In Forbes' "Celebrity 100" list, which ranks the most powerful celebs of the day, they slotted His Airness at #18 in 2008. The only baller ranked above him -- and barely -- was LeBron James.
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