Inside Michael Jordan's $80 Million Basketball Court Yacht

Since walking away from his legendary NBA career as one of the richest players of all time, Michael Jordan has shown a massive interest in sea fishing and relaxing on boats. So he splashed the cash and combined his passions by adding a basketball court onto an actual yacht. Today, we're going to look at this amazing superyacht he's been enjoying. We'll examine the massive ship inside and out to see the amazing features. We'll then explore just how much it's worth. Even to charter it will require deep pockets. In January 2019, Michael Jordan was spotted on top of the megayacht called Joy. The 230-foot-long award-winning boat was just off the coast of the Caribbean island Saint Barts. And what a boat it is to relax within and take in the stunning scenery. Joy was built by the Dutch boat specialist Feedship and first launched in 2016. It's able to reach a top speed of 16 knots or 18 miles per hour. Joy's amazing interior was created by Studio Indigo. With five decks, the boat is big enough to comfortably fit 12 guests within seven cabins. Three of the five decks even have access via an elevator. On the owner's deck is the master suite, which was created like it was a penthouse. The whole room provides a 270-degree view of the yacht's location. The suite even features his and hers en suite bathrooms. In case the owner wants to escape for a bit, the suite also has access to a private office, terrace, and lounge. The owner's deck also has two bedrooms with en suites that are typically used for children. Altogether, throughout the ship, there's one VIP stateroom, four double cabins, and one twin bed. Each of the rooms was designed to have its own personality and character, so guests can choose the style that works for them. But one of the biggest selling features of Joy is the extra facilities that you won't find on any other yacht. Firstly, the game deck, which may have enticed the Chicago Bulls icon considering it can be turned into a basketball court. For an idea on how much this feature can cost, typically on land, building a court can cost between $10,000 to $46,000 depending on size and materials. Yet, since this court is mostly formed of just a hoop, the cost of an NBA hoop alone can be as much as nearly $2,000 from the top brands. But if shooting hoops isn't your thing, there's the chance to have it changed into a badminton court, as the hoop can be stored into the deck. Or, if preferred, the area can be stripped clean and just be an open space for exercising and other activities. Joy also features a fully equipped gym that uses technology from Technogym, whose run personal treadmill can cost $16,000 alone. Considering it's a boat, guests may prefer some water activities. On Joy, you can go jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. On top of this, the boat holds a number of inflatable objects and water games, including a massive 10-meter inflatable slide. There's also smaller tenders to speed across the ocean with, including two 3-meter Williams Jet Tender with 100-horsepower engines. Used Williams Tenders can cost as much as $28,000 each online. There's also an 11.3-meter Wire 38 Tender stored within Joy. Smaller boats can cost up to $3,600 to rent per day. Those that need help at sea, Joy also houses a 3.9-meter Ribeye Rescue Boat. For those wanting to relax, Joy has you covered. There's also an area called the Beach Club. It's a large area that features a video wall, beanbag chairs, and cinema space for those wanting to see a film or enjoy video games. After all, the boat has satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and 4G. Yet, the Beach Club can be converted for those wanting to experience a club but not have to leave the boat, with plush seating and disco lights replacing the cinema experience. If you need further relaxation, Joy has a spa, a glass-sided jacuzzi on the sundeck, and an onboard masseuse. There's even a private chef to cater to your every need. Altogether, there are 19 crew on board the vessel. Some reports stated that Jordan actually owns the Joy superyacht outright and got it in 2019. For that to be the case, that would mean he spent $80 million to acquire it. Others report that MJ has chartered the ship numerous times. Either way, it's impressive. In this instance, the Space Jam icon would have had to spend between $700,000 to $840,000 per week. Is that a lot? But where is Michael Jordan getting the cash from? We hear you thinking that. Well, from just his legendary NBA career alone, Jordan brought in nearly $94 million. Due to endorsements, business dealings, and owning the Charlotte Hornets, he's estimated to have a net worth of $1.6 billion according to Forbes, and he first jumped into the billionaire club back in 2014. Yet, according to other sources, his net worth could be as high as $2.2 billion. His Nike Jordan brand alone is said to bring in a revenue of $3 billion each year. So, with all the money, Jordan wanted to splash out on his passion for fishing and boating, and he's certainly done that, even likely taking his security team with him that costs reportedly between $1,000 to $1,500 per hour. Final fact finish, Michael Jordan is, in fact, involved in having the most expensive sneakers ever sold at auction. In 2020, a pair of Air Jordan 1s was put up for sale by Sotheby's. These shoes were worn by Jordan in an NBA game and are signed by the legend. They were sold for $560,000. This beat the sale of 1972's Nike Waffle Racing Flat Moon shoe during 2019 for $437,500, just in case you were wondering. Thanks for joining us today. We'll see you next time.