The legendary figure of Michael Jordan once again made headlines in the sports world. A prominent NBA-focused outlet published a detailed breakdown of the millions he earned at the age of 61—numbers that naturally drew comparisons with the income of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, one of boxing’s top stars, at age 34.
Jordan is a clear example of how drastically the financial landscape of professional sports has evolved. During his 15 seasons in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls icon earned $93.7 million in salary. Now, in retirement and far removed from active competition, he managed to earn more than three times that amount in a single year.
On May 15, Forbes Magazine released its 2025 ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes, evaluating earnings from May 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025. During this period, Canelo Alvarez—then 34 years old—earned $70 million through boxing-related income alone, including fight purses, bonuses, and appearance fees.
Canelo Alvarez’s earnings compared to Michael Jordan’s
According to Forbes, Canelo Alvarez ranked 22nd on the list of highest-paid athletes in 2025, with total earnings of $80 million. This amount includes the purse from the first of four fights under his lucrative deal with Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh, along with endorsements from brands like Hennessy and Michelob Ultra. However, his income still fell $220 million short of the staggering $300 million earned by Michael Jordan, who was 61 years old in 2024.
Michael Jordan was league MVP five times. (Mike Powell / Getty)
How Michael Jordan earned $300 Million in a single year
According to the sports business portal Fadeaway World, Jordan’s $300 million haul in 2024 came primarily from $260 to $280 million in royalties from Nike due to his 5% stake in every item sold under the Air Jordan brand. Additional income came from the sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, as well as endorsements with multiple brands.
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Michael Jordan reportedly made $300M at 61: How much did Lionel Messi earn at 37?
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