Without any lucrative endorsement deals or jaw-dropping contracts, this former NBA player built a billion-dollar business empire which was estimated to be $1.4 billion last year. What is incredible about Junior Bridgeman is that he amassed all this fortune after his 12-year NBA career. It was during his post-retirement era that he created a huge business. While there are several NBA players’ failure stories that serve as warnings to others, Bridgeman’s trajectory and efforts remain motivating even to this day. Think of the 29-year-old NFL player.

One thing about Bridgeman’s business career is that while he might have found success after his retirement, the late legend had already begun putting in the effort right from his playing career. Bridgeman was also the president of the National Basketball Players Association from 1985 to 1988. During this time, when he helped facilitate smooth negotiations between players and team owners, Bridgeman realized the latter’s interest in business.

“Maybe the business world is more interesting,” he told the How Leaders Lead podcast in 2023. That was the beginning, which saw Bridgeman make several strategic plans to build a business empire on his own. NFL player Xavier Woods is doing something similar. 

While he earns about $5 million per year from his deal with the New Tennessee Titans, the athlete still arrives on time at a smoothie store for work as per Daily Mail. Further details are not known yet. Yes, he might be learning how to make smoothies, but he is also learning the management system and every aspect needed for ownership. So, when Woods finally decides to take the step into ownership, he will know what to expect and how to turn it into something big. He isn’t the first one to do so. 

We saw Bridgeman take the same approach years ago. One of his most significant investments Bridgeman made was in Wendy’s, and he had started doing it during his playing days. He had started a Wendy’s franchise in Brooklyn in partnership with his friend, but that didn’t work out and he lost the money.

But he didn’t lose hope. He took Wendy’s training program and spent months learning the nuts and bolts of the business. Sounds familiar? How did it work out for the NBA legend?

How Junior Bridgeman built his massive business?

The retired NBA player studied the brand and its inner workings. Finally, in 1988, Bridgeman decided to invest his remaining NBA savings of $750,000 to start five Wendy’s locations in former team Milwaukee. He went on to add more franchises in the city, as well as in Louisville, Nashville, Tennessee, and Florida.

During the initial days, Bridgeman’s franchises in Milwaukee weren’t doing well. Most of the time, the workers were not skilled. This is when he used all his learnings from his training program and stepped up as manager. He shifted his focus to training the low-level staff for higher-paying management positions. This made a huge positive impact on the employees as well as his brand. He went above and beyond to help the employees learn their work. And his efforts brought success.

By 2016, the former NBA player had more than 500 franchises, and Bridgeman Foods had become the second-largest Wendy’s franchisee in the world. He also owned over 100 Chili’s and several restaurant chains including Fazoli’s, Blaze Pizza, Perkins, Mark’s Feed Stores, and Golden Corral. In that year, Bridgeman sold many of his restaurants to buy Coca-Cola territories in three Midwestern states and founded Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling company. 

Much later, he also bought a 10% stake in his old team in Milwaukee Bucks. Bridgeman was a standout NBA player and a highly successful businessman. His remarkable career transition will continue to inspire many. His sudden passing in March, 2025 is a great loss. He will be truly missed and remembered.