Michael Jordan plans to donate record amount to Make-A-Wish for 60th birthday

NBA legend Michael Jordan celebrates his 60th birthday on Friday, but he’ll be the one giving out gifts. According to ESPN, Jordan plans to donate $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the largest amount from one individual in the 43-year history of the charity.

Jordan has supported Make-A-Wish dating back to 1989 when he played for the Chicago Bulls. He had already donated more than $5 million prior to his most recent gift, as well as granted the wishes of hundreds of kids with life-threatening illnesses who wanted to meet him.

“For the past 34 years, it’s been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids,” Jordan said in a news release. “Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration.”

Jordan became a Make-A-Wish chief ambassador in 2008 for what the organization called the “life-changing impacts he has had on wish kids and their families.” He is hopeful his act of charity will inspire others to make donations of their own.

“I can’t think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true,” Jordan said.

A six-time NBA champion and member of the league’s Hall of Fame, Jordan is now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. He has a net worth of $1.7 billion according to Forbes, making him one of three billionaire athletes along with LeBron James and Tiger Woods. Jordan made $90 million in salary during his playing career, with the majority of his earnings coming from partnerships with Nike, Gatorade and others.

Aside from his work with Make-A-Wish, Jordan has made several other charitable contributions in recent years. Most recently, he offered $50 million to organizations dedicated to racial equality, social justice and education access following the death of George Floyd in 2020.