Michael Jordan’s son says MJ chose cash over family. Jordan may be the highest-paid athlete of all time, but according to his son Marcus, the NBA star once prioritized saving $40,000 in cash over rescuing his daughter during a jet ski accident.
Marcus shared the story on an episode of the Separation Anxiety podcast, which he co-hosted with Larsa Pippen. As Marcus recalled, the incident happened during a family trip to the Bahamas. Jordan had taken his 14-year-old daughter, Jasmine, out on a jet ski. For reasons unknown, the jet ski flipped, sending both of them and what Marcus described as a “big wad of cash in a rubber band” into the ocean.
“My dad’s in the water, my sister’s floating a few feet away from him, and the cash is floating too,” Marcus said. “Who do you think he went for first? He went for the $40,000. He literally said, ‘She’s got a life vest on – I gotta grab the cash.’”
Marcus also revealed that MJ can’t swim. Still, despite not wearing a life vest himself, the basketball legend zeroed in on the money first before checking on his daughter.
The NBA legend could’ve foregone the 40K as he has a staggering $3.5 billion in earnings, mostly from off-court ventures.
No 7th Jordan-Pippen Ring
Marcus is one of three children MJ shares with ex-wife Juanita Vanoy. He made headlines thanks to his high-profile relationship with Larsa Pippen, ex-wife of Jordan’s former teammate, Scottie Pippen.
The couple began dating in 2022, drawing intense media attention given their Chicago Bulls ties. Last March, Larsa claimed on the Tamron Hall Show that MJ gave the couple his blessing. But three months later, Jordan appeared to shut that down when reporters asked for his take.
However, the Larsa broke up with Michael Jordan’s son and moved on to ex-basketball player Jeff Coby, as the Jordan-Pippen duo were denied their seventh ring.
