Junior Bridgeman has never appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but his name might soon appear on its masthead.
The former University of Louisville basketball star, who has become one of the sports world’s richest retirees, has emerged as a serious bidder for a storied magazine struggling with secular change.
“It’s an iconic brand,” Bridgeman said Sunday morning. “The next part of our analysis is there are other things, other areas that we can go. ... (But) In this world, you can’t be overly optimistic.”
Still standing are Bridgeman and, according to a source with the magazine, a group that includes Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. There may be others. Though he expects to know more by the middle of the month, Bridgeman was not sure where he stood as of Sunday.
In 2016, Forbes estimated that Bridgeman was the fourth highest-paid retired athlete, behind Michael Jordan, David Beckham and the late Arnold Palmer, with an annual income of $32 million. His net worth has been pegged at $600 million by TheRichest.com.
The former University of Louisville basketball star, who has become one of the sports world’s richest retirees, has emerged as a serious bidder for a storied magazine struggling with secular change.
“It’s an iconic brand,” Bridgeman said Sunday morning. “The next part of our analysis is there are other things, other areas that we can go. ... (But) In this world, you can’t be overly optimistic.”
Still standing are Bridgeman and, according to a source with the magazine, a group that includes Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. There may be others. Though he expects to know more by the middle of the month, Bridgeman was not sure where he stood as of Sunday.
In 2016, Forbes estimated that Bridgeman was the fourth highest-paid retired athlete, behind Michael Jordan, David Beckham and the late Arnold Palmer, with an annual income of $32 million. His net worth has been pegged at $600 million by TheRichest.com.
