American entrepreneur and former NBA basketball player Ulysses Lee “junior” Bridgeman or Junior Bridgeman is from the United States. Between the year 1975 and 1987, peak year of Junior, Bridgeman spent twelve seasons playing in the NBA, starting with the Milwaukee Bucks. Popular magazines, Ebony and Jet magazines are currently owned by junior. Bridgeman, one of the wealthiest former athletes in the world, with a net worth of over $600 million despite never earning more than $350,000 a season throughout his NBA career.
Junior Bridgeman Biography and Net Worth
Net Worth $600 M |
Full Name Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman |
Birth Date September 17, 1953 |
Age 68 years |
Birthplace East Chicago, Indiana |
Profession Basketball Player, Entrepreneur |
Wife Doris |
Junior Bridgeman Early Life
In 1953, in East Chicago, Indiana, Ulysses Lee “junior” Bridgeman or JB was born. While Junior was growing up, blue-collar steel mill workers were a common occupation in East Chicago. Junior has a remarkable basketball talent from a young age. In 1971, he coached his high school basketball team to a state title.
Bridgeman, who is 6’5″, played both guard and forward for the University of Louisville during his time there. After earning a bachelor’s degree, Junior Bridgeman was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the eighth overall choice in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft. He was then promptly moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Junior Bridgeman Career
Bridgeman scored 11,517 points in his NBA career, which was highly successful. Junior’s most of his twelve-year in NBA career was as a sixth man. He scored double digits on average for nine straight seasons. Even though he only started 105 of his 711 games, he still owns the Milwaukee franchise record for games played. Junior understood that he would only have a limited amount of time to play in the NBA. The paychecks would eventually cease pouring in, and he would have to find another reliable source of money. So, on a whim, Bridgeman made his decision of buying a Wendy’s franchise, fast food joint.
By 2016, Bridgeman Foods Inc. was the franchisor of more than 120 Chili’s and 160 Wendy’s restaurants. Over 11,000 workers works for it, which earns the amount of more than $530 million per year and Junior is Coca-Cola Heartland’s sole president and CEO as of 2022. Together with his son Justin, he manages the business, including its 18 regional distribution locations and production facility in Lenexa, Kansas.
Junior Bridgeman Wife
Junior and his beautiful spouse Doris have been together for almost 35 years, three of their adult children hold MBAs and works for the family firm.
Junior Bridgeman Net Worth
The estimated net worth of junior Bridgman is $600 million as of 2022 mostly made up from his business ventures. His professional basketball career spanned the years 1975 through 1987, just before players started getting paid exorbitant sums of money. The Clippers paid Bridgeman his highest NBA salary of $350,000 in 1985. Bridgeman’s Chili’s outlets generated around $300 million in annual revenue.
Junior Bridgeman Height and Weight
Height 6’5” |
Weight 95kg |
Eye color Black |
Hair color Brown |