Michael Jordan had witnessed countless faces throughout his legendary career. Fans, teammates, coaches, and executives—they all admired him. But none had left as deep a mark on him as the face of the woman standing before him now. It was a face he had never expected to see again, a face that had been with him through the trials of his childhood, nurturing him when no one else seemed to notice. But there she was, standing in front of him, older and frail, in the most unexpected place: a small café in San Francisco.
It had started as just another hectic day—another technology conference, another whirlwind of handshakes, cameras, and conversations about the future. Michael was used to the chaos, but today he needed a break. He had everything anyone could dream of: wealth, fame, and respect. But sometimes, amidst all the noise, the world felt too big, too overwhelming. So he slipped away for a moment of peace, hoping for a quiet corner where he could collect his thoughts.
He stepped into the café, greeted by the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The hum of background conversations was a stark contrast to the usual clamor of his life. He found a corner table and settled in, the warm solitude of the space washing over him. But then, his eyes fell on her.
At first, it was just a fleeting moment, an elderly woman in a blue-and-white uniform, wiping down tables with a grace that seemed too deliberate for a café worker. Her silver hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and the slow, careful movements spoke of years of hard work. She was bent with age, her hands showing signs of decades of toil, yet there was something so familiar about her, something that tugged at the edges of his memory.
Then, it hit him—Maribel Vega, his nanny. The woman who had been his constant, who had cared for him like a mother when his own had not been around. His heart skipped a beat. She was standing before him, but this time, she wasn’t the lively woman who had once brought him comfort; she was fragile and working in a café at 85 years old to make ends meet.
Michael froze. His gaze fixed on her hands—the hands that had once bandaged his scrapes, wiped his tears, and calmed his childhood fears. This couldn’t be happening. The contrast between their lives was overwhelming. Here he was, a global icon, a billionaire with private jets and mansions, while the woman who had helped him become who he was now struggled just to survive.
He stood up, emotions swirling within him. Maribel had been more of a mother to him than his own mother had been. She had raised him, shaped his early years with love and care, teaching him lessons about resilience, compassion, and balance. But now, seeing her in this light, it felt wrong. It was as if the world had forgotten her, left her behind. Michael had everything he could ever need, yet the woman who had shaped his childhood was cleaning tables just to survive.
He walked toward her, heart heavy with guilt. He had never imagined this. He had always thought of Maribel as someone who would be taken care of, who had done her part in his life. But now, here she was, in a modest café, doing work she had no business doing at her age. How had this happened? How had the woman who had shaped his early years ended up in this situation?
“Maribel?” Michael’s voice caught in his throat.
She looked up, her eyes squinting with confusion before recognition hit her. “Michael?” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. The moment hung in the air as the two of them stood there, separated by years of time, but united by shared memories.
“What are you doing here?” Michael asked, unable to hide the disbelief in his voice. “Why are you working here? You’ve given so much of your life for me. You shouldn’t have to do this.”
Maribel smiled faintly, her eyes tired but kind. “I’m just trying to make ends meet, Michael. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect.”
The words hit Michael like a ton of bricks. Life hadn’t turned out the way she had expected. She had sacrificed so much for him, and now she was left to struggle in the margins of society. Michael had climbed the ladder of success, but Maribel had never even been given a chance to climb. She had spent her life caring for others, giving her love, her time, and her energy to raise him, but now she had nothing to show for it.
“Maribel, you shouldn’t be doing this. Not after everything you’ve done for me,” Michael said, his voice thick with emotion. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I’m going to make sure this changes. You’re not going to work another day like this again.”
Maribel shook her head. “Michael, I’m just fine. You don’t need to do anything for me.”
But Michael couldn’t just walk away. He couldn’t ignore the truth that was staring him in the face: his success had come at the expense of those who had helped him, and now it was time to make things right.
As Michael made his way out of the café, he was overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility. He had built his empire on the backs of people like Maribel, who had worked quietly behind the scenes, and now it was his turn to give back. He had always known that greatness wasn’t just about winning championships, but now, standing in front of Maribel, he understood it in a way he never had before. True greatness wasn’t measured by wealth or fame—it was measured by the lives you touched, by the people you helped, and by how you gave back to those who had given so much for you.
The next few days were a blur. Michael didn’t just want to offer Maribel financial support. He wanted to give her the recognition she deserved. He set up a meeting with his foundation’s director, Janet, and began crafting a plan to change Maribel’s life forever. But more than that, he wanted to create a movement—a movement that would recognize the unsung heroes of the world, the people who worked tirelessly, who sacrificed their own dreams to make others’ lives better.
It wasn’t just about Maribel anymore. It was about the countless people like her, who had been forgotten by society, who had been left behind while others rose to the top. Michael knew that his wealth and fame gave him a platform, and he was determined to use it for something greater than himself.
Within weeks, Michael had not only secured a retirement fund for Maribel but also launched a scholarship in her name, dedicated to those who worked behind the scenes, supporting families, and shaping the future without ever receiving recognition. Maribel’s story would no longer be one of struggle—it would be a story of redemption, of giving back, and of recognizing the value of those who had given their all without asking for anything in return.
When Michael visited her, he saw a woman who had once been invisible to the world but was now celebrated for the immense impact she had made in his life. The woman who had shaped his childhood was now being recognized for the sacrifices she had made, and for the first time in a long time, Maribel smiled as she realized that her story would finally be told, her sacrifices finally acknowledged.
In that moment, Michael Jordan realized that greatness wasn’t about breaking records or winning titles. It was about giving back, about recognizing those who helped you along the way, and about creating a world where no one was left behind. And in doing so, he had begun to reshape his own legacy—not just as a basketball player, but as someone who could change lives, who could make a difference, and who could give the world something far more valuable than any trophy: the power of kindness, respect, and recognition.
How does Michael Jordan spend his US$1.7 billion net worth? The former NBA legend’s Nike deal and savvy investments in Cincoro Tequila and the Charlotte Hornets continue to pay off
Michael Jordan made less than US$100 million in NBA contracts as the league’s greatest player of all time, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a billionaire, with a whopping net worth of US$1.7 billion. His fortune is due in large part to the value of his NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Jordan brand. He was reportedly still making US$100 million a year from Nike royalties alone in recent years.
Known by his initials, MJ, he was the first sportsperson to become a billionaire – and his steady income lets him live a pretty amazing lifestyle. So how did he do it, and what does he splash his cash on?
Exclusive golf course
Michael Jordan, also known as MJ, was the first sportsperson to become a billionaire. Photo: @michael_jordann_/Instagram
Jordan loves to golf, and in 2021, the nickname of his exclusive golf course, Grove XXIII, surfaced. Dubbed “Slaughterhouse 23”, it earned the name because it was designed by Jordan, for Jordan, and aimed at maximising Jordan’s style of play against his opponents. He even has a custom, Carolina-blue golf cart emblazoned with the iconic Jumpman logo.
The Florida course has lavish amenities, including a drone delivery service that brings beer and other refreshments to the club’s members.
Michael Jordan’s golf course in Florida provides a drone delivery service that brings beers to quench the thirst of the players. Photo: Getty Images
Investment in Dapper Labs
In March 2021, Jordan was part of a US$305 million investment in Dapper Labs, the start-up behind the virtual trading card platform NBA Top Shot. Other investors included Will Smith, Kevin Durant, and US rapper 2 Chainz.
Thanks to his savvy investments and endorsement deals, Michael Jordan is laughing all the way to the bank. Photo: @michaeljordan/Instagram
The NFT company has since fallen on hard times as the crypto markets have cratered and recently had to lay off 22 per cent of its staff, according to a letter made public by Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou.
Philanthropy
Jordan also donated US$2 million of his earnings from his 2020 docuseries The Last Dance to Feeding America’s food banks in Chicago and the Carolinas. “In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to Covid-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks,” he said in a statement.
