Did Michael Jordan donate his salary from The Wizards?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Yes, Michael Jordan famously donated his entire player salary from his final two seasons in the National Basketball Association playing for the Washington Wizards to various relief efforts. When Jordan returned from his second retirement in the fall of 2001 to lace up his sneakers as the starting shooting guard and president of basketball operations for the Wizards, he signed a standard player contract worth approximately one million dollars per season. Understanding the profound national and global circumstances surrounding the timing of his comeback, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Jordan made a public commitment that every single cent of his playing salary for both the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons would be directed away from his own bank account and funneled directly into charitable organizations. The vast majority of these funds were allocated toward disaster relief funds, particularly supporting families of victims, firefighters, and emergency personnel affected by the tragedy, as well as various youth education and health initiatives. This philanthropic gesture ensured that his final stint on the court was entirely about competition and community support rather than financial gain, cementing his legacy off the court during his twilight years as an active player.

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