Michael Jordan Dropped $10M for His Wedding to Yvette Prieto
Many athletes grow accustomed to an extravagant lifestyle that they cannot maintain post-retirement, and the physical toll and unpredictability of the world of sports means that the time of extreme paychecks can be brutally short.
Michael Jordan is one of the few athletes who managed to become even richer after retirement. It seems like his net worth continues to rise year after year, and the famed NBA player — whose final season with the Chicago Bulls was in 1997-1998 — now has a net worth of around $2.1 billion. That impressive wealth comes from a wide range of investments and projects including his lucrative deals with Nike and his majority share in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2013, Jordan’s extravagant lifestyle afforded by his fortune extended to his wedding to Yvette Prieto. The event cost an astounding $10 million.
Michael Jordan lives a life of luxury
Some celebrities like to live frugal, modest lives. Michael Jordan is not one of them. The savvy investor uses his riches to the fullest and has a very luxurious lifestyle. He has multiple homes, including a massive Chicago estate (which he’s been trying to sell for years), a lake house in North Carolina, and another impressive property in Utah (which is also on the market).
The home where he has invested the most time and personal care is the one in Jupiter, Florida that costs more than $20 million. The sprawling estate is 26,299 square feet and features 11 bedrooms and 11.5 bathrooms. It also boasts a full-sized basketball court, an impressive media room, and several outbuildings including a guest house, pool house, and guardhouse, according to Yahoo Sports.
On top of that, Jordan owns a private jet with a unique and distinctive elephant print design and a 154-foot yacht named Mr. Terrible. That doesn’t even mention his car collection, which features multiple luxury models including Ferraris, Mercedes, and Land Rovers. He also famously has a deep appreciation for fine cigars and has boasted about smoking up to six a day!
Yvette Prieto and Michael Jordan met in 2008
Michael Jordan was first married in 1989 to Juanita Vanoy. The pair had a long relationship and had three children together before divorcing in 2006 — where Vanoy got a divorce settlement to the tune of $168 million. While their marriage lasted a long time, it wasn’t without controversy.
The pair met in 1985, just a year after Jordan was drafted to the NBA. They were engaged when Prieto discovered she was pregnant. At that point, Jordan kind of vanished from the relationship, not returning to his growing family until Vanoy sought legal counsel. They eventually worked it out, marrying shortly after their son was born.
Just a few years after the divorce was final, Jordan met Yvette Prieto at a nightclub. By 2009, they were living together, and just a few years later, Jordan proposed. Their 2013 wedding took place at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, the same place where Donald and Melania Trump tied the knot.
The next year, the pair welcomed twin baby girls.
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto’s wedding was stunning
There was no shortage of support for the couple as they said “I do.” More than 300 guests joined Jordan and Prieto including Tiger Woods, Spike Lee, and Patrick Ewing. Performances included appearances from Usher and Robin Thicke. The $10 million event spared no expense and gave immense attention to every little detail.
A source told Us Weekly that “[t]he tent even smelled beautiful. I looked like the most luscious garden you could imagine. You walked into the dining room and it looked like heaven. The room was filled with thousands of candles, thousands. It was heavenly.”
Decorations for the lavish celebration at the reception included crystal candelabras, white roses, and purple-accented tulips. The bride wore a gorgeous French silk gown with Swarovski crystals. One attendee gushed that the wedding was a fitting representation of the couple’s love: “The warmth and the love was just overflowing. It was a wonderful day and will be a wonderful marriage!”
