Michael Jordan‘s run-ins with the Caribbean have often been one filled with purpose, rigor, and a plan to uplift. Back in the year 2000, at the tail-end of his career, the 6X NBA Champion had reportedly made a short visit to the region—Barbados, to be exact—to help and encourage the West Indies cricket team. And now, away from the realms of the NBA after an iconic career, the superstar has taken up the same journey, albeit in a slightly different way…

Ever since his retirement, the icon has been on an upward graph. From business ventures to a glittery ownership portfolio, any lucrative business on the market, and you’re sure to find the Hall of Famer’s name underneath. The result? A sky-high net worth, and an influence beyond comparison. For the unversed: The 62-year-old earned a staggering $90 million in salary from the NBA, besides $2.4 billion (pre-tax) earnings from Nike, Hanes and Gatorade. He’s also been a NASCAR team owner, an advisor and investor to sports betting firm DraftKings, and was also a majority stake holder—which he sold for $3 billion in 2023—in the Charlotte Hornets. As per Forbes, the veteran is currently worth over $3.5 billion. So, as expected, the world is at his fingertips, with his presence alone serving as the incentive countries need. 

On March 21, a unique post appeared on Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s Facebook page. A Customs officer was seen delightedly posing beside Jordan, who was clad in an all-black outfit. Jordan had reportedly arrived to the island nation—some 1600 miles from his home in Florida, with a humble population of around 180,000—on a private jet which some lucky fans also shared snaps of. Featuring the bright white Jumpman logo on red and seemingly faster than commercial planes, his private charter, Gulfstream G650ER is worth at least $65 million as per reports. 

As a country with an already struggling tourism sector owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising import prices, and natural disasters, Jordan’s presence is surely going to give it some much-needed boost. So, as expected, some residents even went the extra mile to thank the superstar for his services. Facebook user Gregory Philbert went on to share a Facebook Reel welcoming the legend, with a lengthy caption. “*Warmest Welcome to St. Lucia, Basketball Legend Michael Jordan!* On behalf of the people of St. Lucia, it is our absolute pleasure to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to the one and only Michael Jordan! We are beyond thrilled that you have chosen our beautiful island as your destination, and we are honored to have you here with us. Your private plane has safely touched down, and we assure you that it is secure and ready for your departure whenever you’re ready.”

“As a basketball legend, your impact on the sport is immeasurable, and your dedication, passion, and perseverance have inspired countless fans around the world. We are so grateful to have you here, and we can’t wait to share our island’s hospitality, beauty, and warmth with you. During your stay, we invite you to indulge in our stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant culture. From the iconic Pitons to the Sulphur Springs, and from our delicious local cuisine to our infectious island rhythms, we’re confident that you’ll fall in love with our little slice of paradise. Once again, welcome to St. Lucia, Michael Jordan! We’re so glad you’re here, and we look forward to making your stay with us an unforgettable experience. *Warm regards from the people of St. Lucia!*” the caption concluded.

While the reason for his visit is unknown, it’s worth noting that this trip comes exactly two months after MJ visited Costa Rica for his longtime hobby: Sport fishing. Earlier that same month, Jordan had visited the same country to participate in the Pelagic Rockstar Offshore sportfishing tournament, which took place in Quepos, alongside more than 1,000 participants. He even has a special, luxurious yacht Catch 23 that he uses for competing.

As for this trip, while we cannot guarantee whether MJ will compete again, it was also a much-needed holiday as apparent from Jordan’s wife, Yvette Prieto’s social media updates. On March 20, the Cuban-American model shared some videos and pictures on her Instagram Story showing the sea of green within her residence. In one of the next updates, she also shared a snippet of the beach as visible from her room.

Notably, his arrival in St. Lucia comes just hours after his statement regarding the NASCAR lawsuit went viral…

Michael Jordan takes a stand for Curtis Polk

Jordan’s NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR last season, which led to the sport counter-suing them. Amidst the chaos, NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates recently criticized Curtis Polk. 

In a conversation with the Associated Press, Yates said, “I don’t think Mr. Polk really understands the sport. I think he came into it and his view is it should be much more like the NBA or other league sports. But it’s not. No motorsport is like that. He’s done a lot of things that might work in the NBA or might be okay in the NBA but just are not appropriate in NASCAR.”

And MJ was quick to share his response through his spokesperson. “Curtis and MJ stand united. His perspective is if you are coming after Curtis, you are coming after him. He doesn’t look at this as just business. It’s personal,” the spokesperson confirmed.

MJ shares close ties with Polk due to their previous endeavors. With Polk, he also co-owns the NASCAR Cup Series team, 23XI Racing. Denny Hamlin is also part of the ownership roster. No wonder, he took a stand for Polk.