What was Junior Bridgeman’s net worth? How former NBA player and Ebony Owner amassed impressive fortune

Junior Bridgeman is known for his successful basketball career and his various business ventures. Though he had an NBA career as a steady sixth man for the Milwaukee Bucks, it was his business endeavors that made him rich.

The former NBA player passed away on March 11, 2025, at the time of his passing his wealth was estimated at nearly $600 million, making him one of the richest former NBA players of all time.

Junior Bridgeman’s path to multimillionaire status started when he was still in the NBA. Unlike many athletes who put off their business opportunities until after retirement, Bridgeman began planning for a life after basketball early on.

A turning point came in 1978 when he visited a McDonald’s owned by Wayne Embry, the Bucks’ general manager and a former NBA player. Watching Embry succeed as a franchisee made Bridgeman think of the fast food market.

After retiring in 1987, Bridgeman bought three Wendy’s franchises. He had a few setbacks early on but reinvested and grew his portfolio over time. Eventually, Bridgeman became one of the biggest restaurant franchise owners in the United States.

His company, Manna Inc., operated over 450 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants in several states. By 2010, Manna Inc. had more than half a billion dollars in revenue, making it one of America’s largest Black-owned businesses.

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More about Junior Bridgeman’s business expansion and his early career in the NBA

Junior Bridgeman’s business extended beyond fast food chains. In 2016, Bridgeman entered the beverage industry by purchasing a Coca-Cola bottling operation, expanding his investment portfolio.

Bridgeman made news again in 2020 when he bought Ebony magazine for $14 million after the publication went into bankruptcy. Founded in 1945, Ebony was a cultural fixture for African Americans, and Bridgeman’s acquisition was meant to revive its importance.

In contrast to his success and wealth, Junior Bridgeman's early life was tough and riddled with challenges. Born Ulysses Lee Bridgeman in 1953 in East Chicago, Indiana, was raised in a working-class family. His father held multiple jobs, at a steel mill, a tavern, and a department store, to support them.

According to an ESPN report, Bridgeman had understood the value of hard work from a young age and took part in odd jobs every summer to help provide for his family. Eventually, his basketball talent earned him a scholarship to the University of Louisville, where he led his team to the 1975 Final Four.

In his 12 seasons in the league, Junior Bridgeman had carved out a role as one of the league’s best sixth men, averaging 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.