Michael Jordan defied a significant personal boundary with an $80 million purchase following a life-altering phobia.
The six-time NBA champion was renowned for his fearless mentality, which contributed to his success both on the basketball court and in business.
However, Jordan’s childhood was marked by two tragic incidents that profoundly affected him.
At the age of seven, Jordan witnessed the drowning of a close friend, an experience that left a lasting impact. Recalling the event years later in a 1992 interview with Playboy magazine, Jordan described how he struggled to save his friend from drowning but had to let go to save himself from being dragged down too.
A few years later, while attending a baseball camp, Jordan himself had a near-drowning experience, further intensifying his fear of water. This fear was exacerbated when a former girlfriend drowned during a vacation while Jordan was in college, leading him to develop hydrophobia—a severe fear of water.
In his autobiography ‘For the Love of the Game: My Story’, Jordan admitted to avoiding water for the rest of his life, stating firmly, “I’m not going in the water anymore.”
Despite this fear, Jordan made headlines in 2016 when he purchased a lavish 230-foot superyacht named ‘Joy’ for $80 million. This yacht features amenities such as a basketball court, showcasing a surprising shift in Jordan’s relationship with water.
Nevertheless, Jordan maintains two strict rules related to water, indicating that while he may have made accommodations, his fear remains significant.
Michael Jordan, aged 61, is among the most iconic figures in sports history, celebrated for his remarkable career in the NBA where many regard him as the greatest player ever. His tenure with the Chicago Bulls yielded six NBA championships and he earned six NBA Finals MVP awards. Jordan was also named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player five times, spanning his time with both the Bulls and the Washington Wizards.
Beyond his on-court achievements, Jordan’s influence extended into popular culture. He forged a groundbreaking partnership with Nike for his Air Jordan sneakers, which have become globally recognized. Additionally, he starred in the 1996 film “Space Jam” and was the subject of the Emmy-winning documentary series “The Last Dance” in 2020, which aired on Netflix.
Throughout his career, Jordan played over 1,200 regular season and playoff games in the NBA, setting numerous points-per-game records. His impact on basketball remains profound, with ongoing debates about the greatest team he played on. Jordan himself has identified the 1996 Chicago Bulls roster, which achieved a record-setting 72 wins, as his personal favorite among the Bulls teams he played with. He famously challenged anyone to prove there’s a better team than that, emphasizing the collective achievements over individual accolades.
