How a 1984 sneaker deal for Michael Jordan evolved into a $3-billion empire Posted Feb 17, 2019 If the NBA All-Star Game is a celebration of basketball, having the game in Charlotte is in large part a celebration of Michael Jordan. And Jordan’s sneaker line that helped make him a billionaire is having its time in the spotlight over the weekend. Nike’s $3 billion Jordan Brand has come a long way from when the company signed with Jordan in 1984. (Charlotte Observer)