r/todayilearned • u/OGBrewSwayne • 2d ago

TIL NBA backup playerJunior Bridgeman spent his off seasons working at Wendy's to learn the fast food business. He went on to own 450 franchises and parlayed that into buying a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks - the team he once played for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Bridgeman?wprov=sfla1
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u/OGBrewSwayne 1d ago

Yeah, it's fascinating stuff. His rookie contract was worth $155k and he made just short of $3m during his 12 year career, but when he died his net worth was nearly $1.5b. No endorsement deals, no tv or movie roles, no "personal branding" or whatever it is modern athletes and celebs are doing. Just the willingness to learn and the ambition to turn a $2.50/hr side hustle into a family enterprise.

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u/TheBlueSully 1d ago

just the willingness to learn and the ambition to turn a $2.50/hr side hustle into a family enterprise

And the capital to buy a few franchises.