‘I am devastated’ – NBA honors forgotten star worth $1.4 billion who was richer than Shaq and Charles Barkley
NBA stars are some of the richest athletes in the world.
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James are billionaires thanks to huge contracts on the court and brilliant business deals off it.
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However, one name that rarely gets mentioned in the list of the NBA's richest players is Junior Bridgeman.
The former Milwaukee Bucks forward amassed unbelievable wealth after his playing days, and he was honored by the league on Monday.
Bridgeman passed away at the age of 71.
“I am devastated to learn of the sudden passing of Junior Bridgeman," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
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"Junior was the ultimate entrepreneur who built on his impactful 12-year NBA playing career by becoming a highly respected and successful business leader. He served as a mentor to generations of NBA players and athletes across sports who were eager to learn from him about what it takes to thrive in the business world.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to Junior’s wife, Doris, their children, Eden, Justin and Ryan, the Bucks organization, and his many friends and admirers in the basketball community.”
Inside the NBA favorites Charles Barkley ($60 million net worth) and Shaquille O'Neal ($400 million) greatly enhanced their financial portfolios off the court, while Kevin Durant ($300 million) and Steph Curry ($180 million) lead the way among active stars.
Bridgeman, who 'only' made around $350,000 a year during his playing days, built a business empire with an estimated worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes.
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The former small forward with a 13.6 career scoring average was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the eighth overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft.
Weeks later Bridgeman was traded to the Bucks.
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The 6ft 5in forward spent 12 seasons in the NBA, ten of which came for Milwaukee during two separate stints.
He retired in 1987 with career earnings of around $4.2 million and had his No. 2 jersey retired by the Bucks organization.
Like many of his contemporaries, Bridgeman made his fortunes after retiring from the sport.
He used some of his NBA cash to get into the fast-food industry, purchasing a Wendy's restaurant.
After that, one franchise grew to 160 franchises and before long, he founded Bridgeman Foods, Inc., a company focused on the franchisee model.
By 2016, Bridgeman Foods Inc. also operated more than 120 Chili’s restaurant franchises as well as franchises of Fazoli's and Blaze Pizza.
That same year, Forbes ranked Bridgeman as the fourth-wealthiest retired athlete in the world behind only Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Arnold Palmer.
By 2017, his company became a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company.
Bridgeman also became CEO and president of Coca-Cola Heartland before selling his company.
Bridgeman then owned Ebony and Jet magazines in the US.
The former NBA pro bought the magazines for $14 million through his company, Bridgeman Sports and Media.
“Ebony kind of stood for Black excellence, showing people doing positive things that could benefit everyone,” Bridgeman previously said.
“It just made you feel good knowing that’s where they’re publishing all the stories in the magazine.”
His business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become one of the richest former athletes in the world.
The Bucks said they were 'shocked and saddened' by Bridgeman's passing.
"Junior's retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Forum, serving as a constant remembrance of his outstanding play on the court and his impact on the Bucks' success," the Bucks said in a statement.
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"His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the nation's top business leaders and, last September, Junior's professional life came full circle when he returned to the Bucks family as an owner.
"His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization."
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