“This one really hit hard for me. A lot of people don’t know this but I’ve patterned my whole business acumen after Junior Bridgeman.” On the recent TNT’s Tuesday show, Shaquille O’Neal paid tribute to the former legend. At the age of 71, the Bucks icon passed away as he had a medical emergency at a fundraiser in Louisville. His success story is different from any NBA stars, who usually depend on rich endorsement deals. That is why players like LeBron James and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas gave flowers to Bridgeman.

Before beginning his story, it’s also important to know that he never came from a wealthy background. His father spent nearly 4 decades working at a local steel mill, among other jobs. Now that we know the background, let’s dive deep into the former Cardinals’ business strategy.

Junior Bridgeman and three other NBA stars are Billionaires!

The list starts with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and the only active star LeBron James. Fourth on the list is the Bucks legend, with a net worth of $1.4 billion as per Forbes. Interestingly, his total income from the league was close to $2.95 million and never more than $350,000 in a season. Junior Bridgeman once revealed his first salary was roughly $140,000 in two payments, but after taxes and agent fees, the first paycheck amounted to about $55,000.

After leading the Cardinals to the Final Four in 1975, the Lakers selected him 8th in the NBA draft. However, alongside three other players, the franchise traded him to the Bucks to acquire superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That move benefitted Junior Bridgeman as he was able to hone his business skills, thanks to then-majority owner Jim Fitzgerald.

After already keeping aside $1,000,000 in savings during his career for business, the opportunity came in 1978. When the majority owner asked players if they wanted to invest in a recently purchased cable television operation in the area. The price: $150,000, to be paid over a few years. It turned out be the first successful venture for Junior Bridgeman, as he received a check for $700,000, after Fitzgerald sold the company in about five years.

In 1984, at the age of 30, still playing for the Bucks, one of his friends approached Bridgeman about the potential in Wendy’s business. This kick-started his business empire as, in the beginning, Junior was only a passive investor. Post-retirement, alongside another NBA star, Paul Silas, they opened a Wendy’s franchise in Brooklyn. Both invested about $100,000, but it failed, and they lost about $150,000 altogether.

Junior Bridgeman joined a Wendy’s training program, spending months visiting other franchises, learning about every small detail of the business. The next year, in 1988, Bridgeman invested what remained from his NBA savings — about $750,000 — to buy five Wendy’s locations in Milwaukee. That operation helped him build a fast-food empire that included more than 500 Wendy’s, Chili’s, and Pizza Hut franchises at its peak in 2015. Then, in 2016, Bridgeman sold most of his restaurants for an estimated $250 million.

Away from fast-food chains and return to the NBA!

Cashing on that success, the Bucks legend moved into the distribution business for Coca-Cola with a territory spanning three states. His bottling business revenue almost tripled to nearly $1 billion in 2023. A year later, he would return to the NBA and his former team, this time as an owner. Purchased a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, the franchise where he spent nearly his entire playing career. With the team now valued at $4 billion.

Before the purchase, his net worth was $600 million in 2024, and in 2025, it has increased closed to 130% and stands at close to $1.4 billion. His efforts of finance literacy never stopped during his billionaire journey. Right from the beginning, when he joined the NBPA in his second season, he was an advocate to help players with financial literacy campaigns. The efforts continued until his death in Louisville, as Shaquille O’Neal pointed out during his tribute to the Bucks icon.

“I used to go to his function that he held on the derby at Louisville. A nice humble young man and he gave me all his secrets. He opened the book and… matter of fact he was ‘I’ll help you, I’ll make a call for you.'” After Shaq, even his mentor, Magic Johnson, had a similar story to share about Junior Bridgeman’s success.

“What people don’t realize is Junior didn’t make a fortune as a player, but he turned what he earned into something extraordinary, becoming a billionaire African American businessman in this country.” The 5x NBA champion shared the heartfelt message on X. “I always reference your journey when I speak to young athletes about transitioning from the court or field to the boardroom.”

Not earned more than $350,000 in a single season and has no huge support of endorsements. Junior Bridgeman’s story offers a unique solution to not just NBA stars but athletes worldwide.