Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade were millionaires just a few years into their NBA careers, but there will always be bigger fish. And who is bigger than your own franchise owner? However, the realization of the vast difference in net worth didn’t hit Haslem until a particular incident, as he revealed on his podcast, The OGs.

Recalling a vacation in Europe with Wade, Haslem said, “We on a boat. Living life. We feeling good around. And Mickey pull up on his boat. Now, that’s a boat. Now, that’s a boat. And I was renting. You feel me?” UD described the awe he felt witnessing the luxuries aboard Mickey Arison’s yacht: the golf cart rides to the boat, the no-shoe policy, a person to take away your shoes, someone handing a glass of water on one level, and another person taking away the glass on another level. The entire experience fascinated Haslem

The $50 million yacht was originally crafted for Ted Arison and acquired by Mickey after his father passed away in 1999. Designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder with interiors by Donald Starkey, the vessel accommodates 10 guests and a 15-member crew, as per Superyacht Fan. The boat’s luxury mesmerized Haslem. “That let me know, levels, the difference between rich and levels to this and that. Let me know, I got work to do. When I see that, I say I ain’t there yet… I got to do what’s best for me,” he said on the podcast.

And to be fair to the 3x NBA champ, as the chairman of Carnival Cruise Line and the owner of the Miami Heat, Mickey Arison boasts a net worth of $8.2 billion. This could give a complex to the richest of individuals. Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade, still in the middle of their careers at the time, could have been no exceptions. In fact, the $50 million yacht, Mylin, is no longer the only yacht Arison owns.

A quick look into the secret to Mickey Arison’s wealth aside from Heat ownership

Apart from being the Heat owner, another major portion of Mickey’s wealth comes from his role as the chairman of Carnival Cruise Line. Founded by his father, Ted, Mickey started at the company in sales and customer reservations in 1979. He later became the company’s CEO, and by 2003, Carnival Corporation captured nearly 50% of the luxury cruise market.

The 75-year-old has been the chairman of the company since stepping down as CEO in 2013. Continuing his father’s legacy in business, Mickey decided to acquire another yacht of his own. Named Sixth Sense, the yacht cost the Heat owner $90 million and requires an annual running cost of $9 million, according to Superyacht Fan.

Although Udonis Haslem has not yet reached such financial heights with his net worth of $20 million, he still has ample time to make significant business moves. As the franchise owner of four Subway restaurants and two Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, UD also recently bought a professional Jai-Alai team in 2023. It’s clear the 44-year-old is still striving to make it as big as he can.