Almost 17 years after Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls for a then-NBA record $33.1 million in 1997-1998, that mark still stands at the highest single-season salary in NBA history, with only Kobe Bryant ever breaking the $30 million barrier and last season’s highest-paid player (also Kobe) barely coming within $10 million of MJ’s salary from nearly two decades before.

So that’s what makes the following fact so unbelievable: Michael Jordan made more money in 2014 than he did on the court in his entire NBA career, combined. PBS Newshour reported MJ brought in $100 million last year from his Nike, Jumpman and Air Jordan royalties. In his NBA career combined, Jordan made between $91 and $94 million on the court (the numbers vary depending on the source, but are clearly less than the reported $100 million in shoe/apparel money).

(AP)

To figure out who earned more in modern dollars than less valuable dollars in a different sports landscape is always a fun, if frivolous exercise. This year, Alex Rodriguez will make about $46,000 per at-bat. In his prime, Mickey Mantle earned $65,000 for an entire season.

Arnold Palmer made $2.1 million in his PGA career. Bill Haas, who has never made a top 10 at a major, earned $10 million just for winning the FedEx Cup in 2011. (Palmer, by the way, is the second-highest earning retired athlete at age 86 (!), bringing in $40 million with his endorsement deals, Arizona Iced Tea brand and other endeavors.)

(AP)

That’s just a product of the changing times (and inflation) though. Snow White brought in $8 million in its original theatrical release but is considered one of the top-10 earning films of all time because of various re-releases and the fact that the cost of a movie ticket today probably could have bought you a nice little one-bedroom back in 1938.

But the MJ thing is different. He’s still the highest paid player in NBA history over a single season! In his final two years with the Bulls, he earned $66.3 million. No one in NBA history has ever come close to either. Yet he still makes more money off the court and that’s for two reasons: While MJ made that $66.3 million in his last two seasons, he “only” made about $30 million in his 13 other NBA seasons. Also, people love sneakers. They just do. It’s crazy how much people love sneakers. I don’t get it but, hey, to each their own.

(Nike)