Decades later millionaire Michael Jordan confessed in 1993 how his wealth and success avoided building an ego.

It can be a little upsetting to think that with millions of dollars in your bank account, you can afford to cover almost everything. The feeling of being financially secure and able to buy whatever you want can be a little overwhelming for some. Many get over it quickly, but some don’t. NBA legend Michael Jordan, who became a millionaire in his twenties, once said how down-to-earth he was despite making a lot of money at a young age.

Michael Jordan was 21 when he was drafted into the NBA in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls. That same year, MJ signed a deal with the iconic Nike, which still benefits Jordan to this day.

Michael Jordan never felt compelled to buy anything expensive

Young Michael Jordan lived with his four brothers and his parents, James Jordan, who was an electrical factory supervisor, and Deloris Jordan, who was a banker. Jordan lived a fairly frugal life, so he could not spend more than the basic necessities of life.During a 1993 interview uploaded to YouTube by a podcast in all airnesshost Larry King pointed out that MJ had so much money that he must have been forced to buy whatever he wanted.

He went on to ask Jordan how he coped without the financial shifts in his life on his mind. He answered that he had overcome

“When I was younger, it was one of those things…I dreamed of cars, jewelry, Ferraris, all kinds of things. And I went out and got those things. But after that, it didn’t mean much to me because I was going through the stages of making your dreams come true.” Jordan told King.

dive deeper

MJ explained that the need to outdo everyone in hardwood drove him more than financial gain or the purchase of materials. After the first attraction was over, they slowly disappeared.

How much did Jordan make in his NBA career?

Hall of Famer Michael Jordan had an iconic run with the Chicago Bulls and was hugely popular around the world. His Airness may not have made more career earnings than his former Bulls teammate, but he wouldn’t say less. When Jordan was first drafted by the Bulls in his 1984, he had his five-year contract worth $6.3 million through 1987. He then extended his eight-year contract until 1995, when he was worth $25.7 million.

Watch this story: Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets, LeBron James and Liverpool FC, and other NBA players investing in sports franchises

By the time he entered his eighth season, the 14-time NBA All-Star was making over $30 million a year. In his 14-year career in the NBA, MJ earned approximately $96,580,000. Today, his Airness is worth over $2 billion thanks to years of investment and business projects.