Looking back at the two marriages of legendary Michael Jordan

Basketball legend Michael Jordan broke up with his first wife Juanita Vanoy after 17 years of marriage, and now lives happily but privately with his second wife Yvette Prieto.

Michael Jordan met Juanita Vanoy after a Chicago Bulls game in 1985. She was 4 years older than the basketball legend, and was then a model and loan officer. In a 1992 interview, Juanita Vanoy recounted how a mutual friend introduced the two to each other, convinced that she and he were a perfect match.

Michael Jordan and his first wife Juanita Vanoy. Photo: Twitter Thread

According to the Washington Post, Michael Jordan proposed to Juanita on New Year’s Eve 1987, two years after their date. In 1989, the two got married in Las Vegas. At that time, his first son Jeffrey Jordan was one year old. A year later, second son Marcus was born. In 1992, Jordan and his wife welcomed their daughter Jasmine. The American legend’s two sons also like basketball but do not follow their father’s career but follow the business path.

In the early 2000s, Jordan and his wife’s marriage was not smooth. People newspaper said that Juanita first filed for divorce in 2002 citing “many irreconcilable differences”. She later withdrew her application to give the two of them time to heal. In 2006, the basketball legend and his older wife agreed to divorce after 17 years of being together. Juanita is said to have received $168 million after breaking up with Jordan.

Juanita has lived a private life since then. She has no social media accounts and rarely appears in public. In 2013, Jordan’s ex-wife gave an interview, talking about her hobbies of traveling, collecting art, practicing yoga and collaborating with non-governmental organizations in Chicago. Juanita also said that she and Jordan have a good relationship even though they are no longer together and often talk about their children.

The basketball legend and his wife with their three children. Photo: Twitter Thread

A year after his first marriage broke up, the former basketball superstar met Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto at a nightclub in Miami. The beauty is 16 years younger than Michael Jordan and 30 cm shorter than him. In 2009, Jordan and his young lover moved in together and got engaged a year later. Their wedding took place in Florida in 2013 with the attendance of big names such as golfer Tiger Woods, singers Usher and Robin Thicke. The cost of the basketball legend’s big day is said to be more than $10 million.

One year after their famous wedding, Michael Jordan and his wife welcomed twin girls Isabel and Victoria. The star couple still lives happily together but keeps it private. A source on Daily Mail revealed that the two signed a prenuptial contract, according to which each person’s pre-marital property will still be kept. If divorced, Yvette Prieto will receive $1 million for each year they were married. If they break up after 10 years, the 43-year-old beauty will receive $5 million for each year they were together.

Michael Jordan at his wedding with second wife Yvette Prieto in 2014. Photo: SK

Michael Jordan was born in 1963 and is a monument to American and world basketball. The former superstar just celebrated his 59th birthday on February 17. The legendary number 23 of the Chicago Bulls and the team won the NBA championship 6 times and were crowned NBA Finals MVP 6 times. Michael Jordan was voted the NBA’s best player of the season 5 times. The former basketball superstar is also “cool” in business, always in the top of the richest sports stars in the world even after retiring. Michael Jordan and his wife are also active in charity activities.