NBA Icon Michael Jordan Soars to Forbes 400's Elite Wealthy Club

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Michael Jordan during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 22, 2016.

NBA legend Michael Jordan has achieved another groundbreaking milestone in his legendary career, this time off the basketball court. Forbes has officially ranked him at number 379 on its esteemed Forbes 400 list, making him the first professional athlete to ever earn a spot among America's 400 wealthiest individuals.

This prestigious entry into the Forbes 400 is attributed to Jordan's strategic move earlier this year when he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, an NBA franchise he had acquired in 2010 for approximately $275 million.

Forbes estimates Jordan's current net worth at an impressive $3 billion. His journey to billionaire status began in 2015, driven not only by his basketball prowess but also his lucrative endorsement deals with iconic brands like Nike. This partnership, which started in 1984 with a contract worth $500,000 per year plus royalties, has remained a cornerstone of his financial success. As of the latest data, Jordan continues to receive yearly royalties from Nike, amounting to a substantial $260 million.

However, it's not just Nike that contributed to Jordan's financial empire. Over the years, he inked lucrative contracts with major brands such as Hanes, Gatorade, and Upper Deck, further bolstering his financial standing.

Beyond his wealth accumulation, Jordan has also become renowned for his philanthropic efforts. In celebration of his 60th birthday, he made history with a generous $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish America, marking the largest individual gift ever received by the foundation in its 43-year history.

While Jordan's prowess on the basketball court is legendary, with five MVP awards and six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls during his illustrious 15-season career, his off-court achievements continue to shape his legacy. His strategic investments and business acumen have made him an iconic figure not only in the world of sports but also in finance and philanthropy.

In the larger context of America's wealthiest individuals, Jordan's journey from the courts of the NBA to the elite ranks of the Forbes 400 is a testament to his unique blend of talent, business savvy, and dedication to making a difference.

As of Forbes' latest assessment, Elon Musk leads the Forbes 400 list with an estimated worth of $251 billion, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with an estimated wealth of $161 billion.

Forbes reports that the collective net worth of America's 400 richest individuals now stands at an astounding $4.5 trillion, equaling the record set in 2021. This sum even surpasses the 2022 GDP of Japan, which was $4.23 trillion according to the World Bank.

Grammy-Winning Rapper Krayzie Bone Fights Offstage Battle in ICU

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Krayzie Bone, a prominent member of the legendary rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, has shared a recent health update following his week-long battle in the intensive care unit of a Los Angeles-area hospital. Krayzie, whose real name is Anthony Henderson, has faced serious health challenges in recent weeks.

The 50-year-old rapper was hospitalized last month after experiencing severe health issues, including coughing up blood. He has since undergone surgeries for internal bleeding and required the assistance of a ventilator.

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On Tuesday, he took to social media, posting a photo of himself from his hospital bed, where he revealed that he had been fighting for his life for nine consecutive days. He attributed his recovery to his faith, stating, "I only won the battle this time because I know Jehovah God was with me every step of the way fighting for me."

Krayzie Bone expressed his gratitude to fans for their support and prayers during his challenging ordeal.

The Cleveland native, is renowned as a member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, a pioneering group in the melodic rap genre that emerged in the early 1990s. The group's unique style and harmonies propelled them to the mainstream, and they achieved considerable success, including winning a Grammy for "Tha Crossroads."

He has faced health issues related to sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disease that can affect the lungs. He has previously postponed tour dates due to his health condition.

While his hospitalization has brought concern, his recent update provides a glimmer of hope for his fans and supporters as he continues his journey to recovery.

The cause of his hospitalization remains undisclosed, and medical professionals are closely monitoring his condition.

OutKast's 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' Reigns as Top U.S. Rap Album

Hip-hop legends OutKast have achieved a historic milestone as their 2003 album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" was officially certified 13x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. This certification solidifies it as the largest-selling rap album ever in the United States.

The iconic album, featuring the hit single "Hey Ya," surpassed Eminem's "The Eminem Show," which received its 12x platinum certification in 2022. The uniqueness of "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" as a double album contributed to its remarkable achievement, with each copy sold counting twice in the certification process.

Celebrating this momentous occasion, Big Boi, one-half of OutKast, shared his excitement on Instagram. He posted a video of himself unveiling a framed plaque commemorating the album's 13 million sales and expressed gratitude to the fans, writing, "Over 13 Million albums sold… OutKast is everlasting. Stank You Smelly Much… To All Y’all."

According to the RIAA, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" has reached the esteemed 13x platinum status, placing it among the best-selling albums across all genres. The album made waves when it debuted at No. 1, selling over 510,000 copies in its first week alone.

The album's singles, "The Way You Move" and "Hey Ya!" performed exceptionally well, both peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Hey Ya!" remained at the top of the Hot 100 rankings for an impressive nine weeks.

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Moreover, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" earned OutKast the distinction of being only the second hip-hop project to win the Grammy Award for Album Of The Year. This accolade places the album in the same league as the Diamond-certified "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (10x Platinum), which also received this honor at the 1999 Grammy ceremony.

OutKast has another full-length release that is currently halfway to Diamond status. The RIAA certified 2000’s "Stankonia" as 5x-Platinum in November 2021. Both "Stankonia" and "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" won Grammys for Best Rap Album.

Eminem’s "The Eminem Show" (12x-Platinum) previously held the RIAA certification record for a Hip-Hop album. In addition, the Detroit rapper received RIAA Diamond Awards for 2000’s "The Marshall Mathers LP" (11x-Platinum) and 2005’s "Curtain Call: The Hits" (10x-Platinum).

Other Diamond-certified rap albums include The Notorious B.I.G.’s "Life After Death" (11x-Platinum), 2Pac’s "Greatest Hits" (10x-Platinum), 2Pac’s "All Eyez On Me" (10x-Platinum), Beastie Boys’ "Licensed to Ill" (10x-Platinum), MC Hammer’s "Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em" (10x-Platinum), and Nelly’s "Country Grammar" (10x-Platinum).

OutKast, Eminem or any other Hip-Hop act ever breaking the all-time RIAA certification record appears to be an extremely difficult feat. At the moment, "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)" by Eagles (38x-Platinum) and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson (34x-Platinum) are battling for first place.

The biggest-selling album ever of any genre in the U.S. is the Eagles’ "1971-75 greatest hits collection" (38x platinum), followed by Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" (34 times platinum), the Eagles again with "Hotel California" (26x platinum), and AC/DC’s "Back in Black" (25x platinum). All of OutKast’s LPs have at least gone platinum, with 2000’s "Stankonia" their second biggest-selling album at five million sold.

Andre 3000 and Big Boi haven’t released new music as Outkast in over 15 years but that hasn’t stopped them from celebrating their timeless classics. A couple of years ago, Outkast celebrated the 25th anniversary of "ATLiens" with a limited reissue.

This year, they’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Aquemini" and to honor the release, the duo have released a psychedelic animated music video for “SpottieOttieDopaliscious.” The legendary jazzy anthem was one of the most influential tracks of the album and has received masterful animation treatment from OK Motion Club.

In addition to the new video, Outkast is releasing a limited multi-colored edition vinyl pressing for "Aquemini."