Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Michael Jordan Reportedly Once Lost $500,000 Gambling But Then Stayed Up All Night And Ended Up Winning $600,000
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Michael Jordan Reportedly Once Lost $500,000 Gambling But Then Stayed Up All Night And Ended Up Winning $600,000

Michael Jordan Reportedly Once Lost $500,000 Gambling But Then Stayed Up All Night And Ended Up Winning $600,000

According to Roland Lazenby's book, Michael Jordan once lost $500,000 while gambling but then stayed up all night to make it back and earn $600,000 more.

Divij Kulkarni
Mar 25, 2023
4 Min Read
Share

Credit: Fadeaway World

Michael Jordan is best known for being the GOAT of the NBA, the man that never lost in the NBA Finals. But if there’s one hobby of his that many people talk about even now, it’s gambling. And in Roland Lazenby’s book, ‘Michael Jordan: The Life’, he shared a pretty epic MJ gambling story.  

“During exhibition season in late October, Leahy’s running account of the comeback tracked Jordan up at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino the night before a game,” Lazenby wrote. 

“Jordan, down $500,000 at the gambling tables, stayed till the sun came up, and he had won his money back, plus about $600,000 more, all the while unaware that Leahy was providing a running play-by-play of the event for readers back in D.C.”

That is an incredible story and it also serves to point out that those sums of money are no big deal to someone like Michael Jordan. MJ was on track to be a billionaire by the time the mid-90s came around, and so what might have been huge sums to other people would end up being alright for him. 

On the basketball court, Jordan was known for being competitive, and that part of his personality came out off the court as well. The stories of him taking golf losses personally are also legendary, and it stands to reason that he would try to win back any losses he had on the same day while gambling as well. 


Michael Jordan Once Explained Why He Enjoys Gambling, And Why It’s Not A Problem

Naturally, for someone like Michael Jordan to be gambling, there were those that questioned whether it was okay for him to do so. There was also lots of speculation about his gambling and the supposed consequences of it. But the man himself spoke about it and cleared it up, describing his penchant for the activity as a ‘competition problem.’

“I never bet on games. I only bet on myself, and that was golf,” Jordan said. “Do I like to play blackjack? Yeah, I like playing blackjack. There’s no laws with that. The league did call me, and they asked me questions about it, and I told them exactly what was happening.”

When asked if he had a gambling problem, the 57-year-old said: “No, because I could stop gambling. I have a competition problem, a competitive problem.”

While he wasn’t regularly ending up with massive wins while gambling, the story mentioned shows that he won quite a few times, explaining why he enjoyed it so much. No one would want to face prime Michael Jordan on the basketball court, but it seems like he would be a scary opponent at the poker table as well.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Michael Jordan
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByDivij Kulkarni
Follow:
Divij Kulkarni is an NBA columnist for Fadeaway World. He has covered the NBA and the English Premier League, with 4 years of experience in creating sports content. Finding exciting and intriguing content about all things NBA is both his job and his passion. Divij loves the Dallas Mavericks and can be regularly observed getting emotional during games. Outside of basketball, he enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, consuming copious amounts of movies and TV, and spending time with his dog, Olivia. Expertise: NBA, Historical Sports ResearchFavorite Team: Dallas MavericksFeatured On HoopsHype, Sports Illustrated, Secret Base, MSNPrevious Work: Tribuna
Previous Article Tristan Thompson On LeBron James And Kyrie Irving Potentially Reuniting: “They’re Like A Match Made In Heaven”
Next Article The Miami Heat Are Dedicating A Seating Section In Their Arena To Udonis Haslem
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Minnesota Timberwolves News & Analysis

Anthony Edwards Gets Real On Putting “Belt To A**” On Elite Players Like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry

October 3, 2025
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Steve Kerr Took A Page From Phil Jackson’s Book To Avoid Contract Distractions During Warriors’ Season

October 3, 2025
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Seth Curry Admits He Didn’t Want To Team Up With Stephen Curry Until Now

October 3, 2025
Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic (15) takes questions during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Denver Nuggets News & Analysis

Nikola Jokic Remains Loyal To The Nuggets Despite Not Signing An Extension This Summer

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?