Charles Barkley opens up about Michael Jordan's greatest business advice to him

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan don't have a great relationship right now, but that wasn't always the case. In fact, the six-time champion helped his fellow Hall of Famer in the business world.

Along with being one of the greatest NBA players ever, Jordan has done extremely well for himself off the court too, mainly with his endorsement deals. His knowledge of the field also helped Charles Barkley secure a big payday.

As they neared their peak at the same time, Barkley and Jordan inked deals with Nike close to one another. Jordan was seen as the face of the brand, but still made sure to look out for his fellow NBA star.

During an episode of "The Steam Room" podcast, Barkley opened up on some advice Jordan gave him. The Phoenix Suns legend said he was able to fully maximize his earnings potential with the company thanks to Jordan's advice.

"He says, 'Hey man why you need all that money? Tell Nike you want a million and the rest in stock options.'

"I actually made probably 10 times the amount of money, and I'm still with Nike to this day."

Barkley was originally going to be paid $3 million. But thanks to Jordan, that ended up being a lot more.

What is Charles Barkley's net worth?

As of 2023, Charles Barkley's net worth is estimated to be around $70 million. Part of this has to do with his deal with Nike. Not only does he still have an endorsement deal with them, but owns the stock he earned from his original deal thanks to Michael Jordan.

Outside of Nike, other companies that Barkley has endorsement deals with include McDonald's, T-Mobile and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Another piece of Barkley's net worth comes from his salary. This past summer, he signed a new deal with TNT along with Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. It is believed that his new salary for "Inside the NBA" is around $10 million.

In some respects, Barkley owes Jordan a big thank you. If not for his advice so long ago, he would have left a lot of money on the table by not taking stock in Nike.