ESPN's Michael Jordan docuseries premieres tonight. Here are 9 mind-blowing facts that show just how rich the first billionaire athlete really is.

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• Michael Jordan's documentary series, "The Last Dance," airs two months early on ESPN on Sunday, April 19.
• Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest pop culture figures and basketball players in history.
• He's built a lucrative career, with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Michael Jordan's 10-part documentary series, "The Last Dance," premieres Sunday, April 19 on ESPN.

The series, released two months early because of the NBA season's indefinite pause, will feature never-before-seen footage of Jordan's last season (1997-98) with the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan is one of the most celebrated figures in popular culture and almost universally regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, wrote Business Insider's Danny Bakst. Since he retired in 2003, he has built the most successful and lucrative career Business Insider has ever seen from a former athlete.

While he made less than $100 million during his career as the NBA's greatest player of all time, he's been a billionaire since 2014. Currently, his net worth is estimated at $2.1 billion.

He's living a lavish retirement, spending his days in sprawling houses, riding custom planes, and golfing on his own golf course. 

But as much as Jordan is spending, his wealth also keeps growing. Here are nine mind-blowing facts that show just how rich he is.

1. With $1.85 billion in career earnings, Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all time.

Jordan still makes more money than LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, or any other active player.

2. Jordan bought the Charlotte Hornets in 2010 for $175 million, a move that made him a billionaire.

The Hornets have since skyrocketed in value, and Jordan officially became a billionaire in 2014 when the NBA franchise's value rose.

He owns 97% of the equity in the club. Jordan did sell a minority stake in the club in 2019 that valued the team at $1.5 billion, but he reportedly has no interest in giving up control of the team.

3. As of 2015, Jordan was reportedly making $100 million a year from Nike royalties alone.

Jordan also has sponsorship deals with Hanes, Gatorade, and Upper Deck 16 years post-retirement, according to Forbes.

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