“What I’m scared and concerned about now is you start to get that feeling that I’ve got so much money that I can’t really blow it all. That’s the first step in blowing it all,” said Junior Bridgeman in his infinite wisdom. And it was this fear that helped him amass an incredible, billion-dollar fortune. Bridgeman was a man ahead of his time when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 70s and 80s. But today’s a sad day for everyone who knew the former Bucks forward.

Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency on Tuesday while at a public event at the Galt House. WLKY’s Kent Taylor reports that while he was interviewing the former Bucks player, Bridgerman expressed that he was likely having a heart attack. People jumped in to help, and soon the paramedics took him away in an ambulance. However, it would all be futile. The AJ Schneider Company, owners of the Galt House, later confirmed that Ulysses “Junior” Bridgerman had passed away.

But Junior’s legacy lives on through his wife and 3 children. So, let’s find out who they are.

Who is the wife of late Bucks legend Junior Bridgeman? 

The NBA legend’s wife is Doris Griffith. However, that’s about it for what we know about her. Seems being the better half of a billion dollar fortune can buy you privacy if you so desire. It’s not clear when she met her husband or when they got married.

However, we do know one thing: Junior Bridgeman and Doris Griffith had 3 children together through whom the Bucks legend’s legacy lives on. Let’s meet them.

Does Junior Bridgeman and Doris Griffith have kids together?

Junior’s children, Justin, Ryan, and Eden Bridgeman, all followed him into the family business. And using what their father taught them, they’ve each helped the business grow and evolve.

Rather disappointingly, there isn’t much information available about Justin Bridgeman. He has decided to remain low-key about his life, much like his mother. His siblings don’t share his affinity for anonymity, though. Here’s what we know about Ryan and Eden.

Let’s start with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Junior’s only daughter. She is the proud owner and CEO of Ebony Magazine and Jet Magazine. RocketReach estimates that these magazines are set to generate a combined revenue of $26.1 million in 2025. See, we told you Junior’s kids put his lessons to good use. However, that’s pretty much all we know about Eden. So, let’s move on to the most prolific of Junior’s children, Ryan.

Ryan seems to be the one who inherited Junior’s business savvy more than any of his siblings. Since he took over as the CEO of Manna Inc. in 2017, Ryan has moulded the franchise into its current glory. How? Well, he downsized first, and then he diversified the company’s portfolio, the mark of a shrewd business mind.

Manna Inc. owned over 450 Wendy’s and Chili’s units in their heyday. Ryan cut that number down significantly when he took over. Bridgeman revealed he saw the need to “right-size operations and focus on more manageable growth.” And what a decision that was! Many of his Wendy’s locations are generating more than the average unit volume of $2 million, and his Golden Corrals locations also posted strong sales in 2024.

Ryan seemed to know what he was doing. And Junior said back then that he was “very proud of Ryan and all that he has accomplished since taking over the restaurant business.” He loved how the restaurant business “continued to thrive and, most importantly, the culture and people continue(d) to flourish.”

Junior Bridgeman raised three very strong and capable children alongside Doris Griffith. But we’d wager this task was made easier by the lessons he learned from his own parents.

Who are the parents of Junior Bridgeman?

Do you know why the Bucks legend got the name “Junior”? Well, his father was also named Ulysses Bridgeman. So, put two and two together, and you get where he got his nickname. Ulysses Bridgeman and his father before him had worked at the country’s largest steel mill. However, he was determined that his second-born would find a better way than toiling in the steel industry.

He chose to prioritize Junior’s education. What a brilliant move that was! His efforts led to his son becoming a legend as an athlete, a businessman, and, most importantly, a father. And even though Junior is no longer with us, the doors he opened for his peers and the legacy he leaves behind for his children will stand the test of time!