Michael Jordan Prison Investment: Fact or Fiction?
When it comes to basketball, Michael Jordan is the GOAT. His relentless drive to be the greatest has made a huge impact on the court, but also on business and society in general.
But like many high profile folks, MJ has had his share of controversies and myths. The whole thing about Michael Jordan prison investment has stuck around for a while, making people question his views on political and social issues.
Did Michael Jordan Invest in Prisons?
So there’s this rumor that’s been going around for a while saying Michael Jordan has invested money in private prisons. Which, if true, would be pretty messed up. But from everything I can tell looking into it, this is 100% not true. MJ does not own or invest in any private prisons.
Michael Jordan, who invested in private prison stocks, was some white dude from Oregon, not the basketball legend.
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Background on the Rumor of MJ Owning a Private Prison
Origins of the Rumor
This whole thing seems to have started back in 2014 when some blog posted criticizing Nike’s business model. It was saying how Nike spends peanuts to make their shoes overseas, then turns around and sells them for insane prices. And it tried to compare that to modern day slavery.
Later on, the story morphed even more when some people claimed an Oregon rep had offered Nike a sweet deal to move production back to the US. The deal was they could use cheap prison labor to keep costs competitive with overseas production.
The blog post wasn’t really going after MJ himself. But it did mention his deal with Nike, basically hinting that Nike uses his name to overcharge people for shoes made on the cheap. I think that’s what got the ball rolling on trying to connect MJ to unethical labor practices.
Then somehow over the years, through social media and stuff, this narrative shifted into full blown claims that Michael Jordan owns private prison companies and is profiting from them. But there’s zippo evidence of that actually being true.
So while Nike may deserve criticism for some of their business decisions, there’s nothing showing MJ has any stake in private prisons. That part seems to be total internet rumor mill bunk. But you know how these things spread like wildfire, true or not.
The Evolution of the Myth
The rumor became more prominent with time. And some comments Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made about Jordan not being political. People started saying MJ apparently said “Republicans buy sneakers too,” to make him seem like he didn’t care about social issues.
Then in 2016, rapper Glasses Malone went on The Breakfast Club and claimed Jordan invests more money in prisons than schools. But there’s zero evidence that’s true. There was a white guy named Michael Jordan from Oregon who invested in private prisons, but not the basketball legend MJ.
The myth really spread when people started comparing LeBron James to Jordan, especially after LeBron opened his I Promise School in 2018. That led to viral posts on social media exaggerating the contrast between what LeBron and Jordan were supposedly doing.
But the whole of Jordan investing in prisons is totally false and an evolving myth not based on facts. It just shows how rumors can take on a life of their own and continue spreading even without proof.
The Misinterpreted “Republicans Buy Sneakers Too” Quote
The whole “Republicans buy sneakers too” quote about MJ not being political is totally taken out of context. It came from the book Second Coming by Sam Smith. In the book, it talks about how in 1990 Jordan didn’t publicly endorse Harvey Gantt, a Democrat running for Senate in North Carolina against Republican Jesse Helms. Jordan said he didn’t know much about politics. The “sneakers” quote was supposedly just a joking comment to a friend, not meant to be a serious political statement.
In the documentary The Last Dance, MJ addressed the quote and said he was just focused on basketball back then, not trying to be a political figure. He also privately donated money to support Gantt’s campaign, even though he didn’t endorse him publicly.
Later on, the book’s author Sam Smith provided more background. He said staying out of politics was standard for the whole NBA in the 80s. So Jordan’s private donation actually showed he wasn’t completely apolitical like the “sneakers” quote implied.
Debunking the Prison Investment Myth
As for the myth about MJ investing in prisons, that’s completely bogus. Michael Jordan, who invested in private prison stocks, was some white dude from Oregon, not the basketball legend. But people totally twisted the facts, especially on social media when comparing LeBron James’ charity work to the fake news about MJ’s supposed prison investments.
The whole thing shows how easy it is for misinformation to spread on social media. People don’t fact check and just believe the hype. This prison investment myth really smeared MJ’s rep unfairly. It’s a good example of why we gotta be careful about fake news and check sources before spreading stuff or believing it.
Beyond the Controversies MJ’s True Contributions and Legacy
MJ’s legacy is way more than just basketball and bogus controversies – he’s made major contributions as a business leader and philanthropist.
For one, he made history as the first former player to become primary owner and Chairman of an NBA team when he took over the Hornets. He’s shown serious skills as an executive and his ongoing commitment to the NBA.
Jordan has also been at the front of promoting diversity in his businesses. The staff at the Hornets and his Jordan Brand line with Nike includes lots of minorities in key roles – something you don’t see often with NBA owners or major sportswear companies.
Larry Miller, President of Jordan Brand, has publicly defended MJ’s work empowering minority leaders. He said Jordan’s always focused on building successful, sustainable companies and bringing up minority talent into leadership spots. This shows Jordan’s real impact on diversity and inclusion in business.
Rather than conventional protests, Jordan has focused on economic empowerment as a way to drive change. By putting minorities in big roles in his businesses, he’s laying the foundation for systemic change from the inside. It’s a pragmatic way to create lasting change.
And we can’t forget MJ’s major philanthropy. He’s been Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Chief Wish Ambassador since 2008, granting over 200 wishes and raising $5 million. He also donated millions to 23 Chicago charities from a legal settlement. This generosity shows his commitment to giving back.
MJ’s true legacy is about excellence in sports, business smarts, and charity. The political myths totally misrepresent his positive impact on and off the court. When you look at all he’s done, it’s clear he strives to empower others, give back, and be the best.
What has Michael Jordan invested in?
MJ’s got a super impressive investment portfolio showing he’s as skilled in business as he was on the basketball court. He’s made smart moves across different industries, proving himself as an investor and entrepreneur.
He’s made several big public investments in sports, tech and other areas:
- Charlotte Hornets – One of his biggest deals was becoming majority owner of the Hornets in 2010. He’s been super involved in running the team, showing his lifelong passion for hoops.
- NBA Top Shot – He’s also invested in the digital platform NBA Top Shot where fans can buy, sell and trade officially licensed NBA highlight videos. It’s a cool mix of basketball and blockchain tech.
- DraftKings – In 2020 he joined the board of the sports betting company DraftKings as a special advisor, and took an equity stake too. Shows he’s got an eye on the booming sports gambling and gaming industry.
Some other major investments:
- Jordan Brand – His partnership with Nike built Jordan Brand into a billion dollar sportswear empire. He’s been heavily involved in growing the business way beyond just slapping his name on shoes.
- Miami Marlins – In 2017 he became part owner of the MLB’s Marlins as part of Derek Jeter’s ownership group. Marked his entry into pro baseball ownership.
- aXiomatic Gaming – He bought into this esports company that owns Team Liquid, getting into the surging competitive gaming scene early.
- Restaurants & car dealerships – He’s diversified into hospitality and automotive too, with stakes in various restaurants and dealerships.
MJ’s diverse investments show how he’s leveraged his athletic success into business. Each deal taps into his personal interests and business savvy, plus his drive to keep challenging himself. His transition from court to boardroom is a testament to his nonstop pursuit of excellence and using his platform to maximize impact beyond just sports.
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Kenya Lee
