Michael Jordan | Source: Getty Images
Michael Jordan has faced multiple paternity claims, including attempted extortion in exchange for silence. Moving past these challenges, he has gone on to raise five children, with three now grown into adulthood.
Michael Jordan’s impact on basketball is unmatched. As a former player, Olympic athlete, and businessman, he’s celebrated as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Michael Jordan walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 on October 27, 2024, in Homestead, Florida. | Source: Getty Images
Leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships from the 1980s to the 1990s, the basketball star earned five league MVP titles and three All-Star MVPs, making him the most decorated player in NBA history.
Michael retired three times during his 19-year career, departing first in 1993 after the tragic murder of his father, James Jordan. Following a brief stint in baseball, he returned to the NBA, only to retire again in 1999. Later, he joined the Washington Wizards, finally
retiring for good
at age 40 in 2003.
Michael Jordan during a basketball game on November 7, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
Despite his celebrated career, Michael’s off-court life faced challenges. From 1989 to 1991, he engaged in an affair with singer Karla Knafel, who discovered she was pregnant in 1991 and believed Michael was the father.
Michael Jordan pictured on the basketball court on May 1, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
According to Karla, Jordan allegedly offered her $5 million to keep their relationship and the potential paternity quiet, a claim the basketball star denied.
Blood and DNA tests later confirmed he was not the father, after which Michael sued Karla in 2002, accusing her of
attempting to extort
him by threatening to reveal their affair.
Michael Jordan during the NBA finals on June 2, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
Court documents revealed that Karla initially agreed to a $250,000 settlement. She
claimed
the amount was meant to compensate for the “mental pain and anguish” from her relationship with Michael. He contended the payment was a confidentiality settlement.
Karla alleged that when she told him she was pregnant, he urged her to consider abortion, which she refused. She further claimed that he promised her $5 million to settle their issues, and after his retirement, she demanded he fulfill this alleged promise.
Michael Jordan during a game on November 6, 2002 in Washington, DC. | Source: Getty Images
Jordan denied the agreement, and circuit Judge Richard A. Siebel ultimately ruled in his favor in 2003, finding no enforceable contract.
Judge Siebel
concluded
, “Because the hush money provision infects the entire agreement, the court finds that the entire agreement between Jordan and Knafel is void and unenforceable as a matter of law.”
Michael Jordan during introductions at the NBA All-Star Game on February 9, 2003, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
In 2013, Michael’s legal challenges took another turn when a woman named Pamela Smith, who claimed he was the father of her 17-year-old child, filed
a paternity suit
against him.
Michael denied it, and the court ruled in his favor, highlighting that paternity had already been confirmed in 2003, proving he wasn’t the father. The judge called the suit a publicity stunt and ordered Pamela to pay Michael’s legal fees of $9,704.13.
Michael Jordan during a game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 21, 2013, in Charlotte, North Carolina. | Source: Getty Images
Apart from these paternity suits, Michael is a dedicated father to five children from two marriages. He shares three children—two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, and a daughter, Jasmine—with his first wife, Juanita Vanoy. The couple was married from 1989 until 2006, during which time they focused on raising their family together.
Michael’s daughter, Jasmine, has often captivated social media with her striking looks, drawing admiration from fans. One user
commented
,
“Wow girl you are so unbelievably beautiful,”
while another simply
wrote
,
“Beautiful.”
A different fan
remarked
,
“looking like your daddy,”
recognizing her resemblance to the basketball legend.
Jasmine’s appeal on social media reflects not only her resemblance to her father but also her pride in his incredible legacy. The 2020 docuseries
”
The Last Dance” gave Michael’s children a new appreciation for his legendary career.
Jasmine noted that as younger generations ask about her father, she and her brothers proudly take on the role of preserving his legacy.
Jeffrey, the eldest child,
shared
that watching Michael in his prime offered a unique perspective and that it was amazing to see him “in his element.” For Jasmine, who once Googled her father to understand his fame, the series was “eye-opening.”
Jeffrey and Michael Jordan on the set of the “Today” show on October 15, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
This deeper understanding of their father’s legacy resonates even more with Michael’s children, particularly as they’ve pursued their own paths. His second son, Marcus, briefly followed in his footsteps on the court, playing
college basketball
for the UCF Knights men’s team before transitioning to a career in business and entrepreneurship.
Alongside his older children, Michael also welcomed two younger daughters with his second wife, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto. The couple, who tied the knot in an extravagant ceremony on April 27, 2013, in Palm Beach, Florida, introduced their
identical twin girls
, Victoria and Ysabel, to the world in February 2014.
Their wedding was a grand event attended by 500 guests at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, with an additional 1,500 friends joining the celebration at the Bears Club in Jupiter, near Michael’s sprawling residence.
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto at the 12th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Gala At ARIA Resort & Casino on April 5, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images
In addition to his five children, Michael also became a proud grandfather when his daughter Jasmine welcomed
a baby boy
in May 2019.
Jasmine celebrated her son’s
fifth birthday
in May 2024. Reflecting on grandparenthood, Michael
described
it as “fun,” sharing that he enjoys every chance to play and bond with his grandson.
Frequently featured on his mother’s Instagram, Jasmine’s son has charmed online fans who often share their admiration in the comments.
One user
wrote
,
“Big boy,”
while another
added
,
“sweetest boy in the world.”
On his recent birthday post, a fan
exclaimed
,
“5 already!!?!? 😮 Happy happy birthday!!”
From his celebrated career and legacy to his growing family,
Michael Jordan
continues to make an impact both on and off the court. His journey from iconic NBA champion to dedicated father and grandfather highlights a life filled with achievement, resilience, and love.