
03/12/2025
NOT MICHAEL JORDAN
NOT MAGIC JOHNSON
NOT SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
The first former National Basketball Association (NBA) player to become a billionaire is Junior Bridgeman. His story, entirely unknown to most people, is one that must be considered among the greatest in American entrepreneurial history.
Bridgeman played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1975-1987 where he earned a total of $2.95 million during his career. In fact, he never more than $350,000 in a season. That’s a nice cushion for sure, but it doesn’t get you anywhere near billionaire status.
So how did he do it? No, Bridegeman didn’t attend Harvard Business School classes during that time. He didn’t invest and hit it big in the stock market. And he didn’t win the lotto jackpot. It was during the off-seasons of his playing career where Bridgeman would discover the path to his fortune. In a setting that would seem absurd in today’s National Basketball Association (NBA) world, Bridgeman worked at and learned the business model of The Wendy’s Company - the fast food restaurant franchise. And the brilliant man learned fast. After retiring from the National Basketball Association (NBA), he built a fast-food empire that, at its peak, totaled more than 450 restaurants nationwide. He became a The Coca-Cola Company bottling distributor with territory across three states and into Canada. He bought EBONY Media and Jet magazines.
Finally, in September, 2024, Bridgeman purchased a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks Inc. Bucks and Forbes reported that Bridgeman’s net worth had surpassed $1.4 billion.
Junior Bridgeman passed away yesterday at the age of 71. His story must be shared.