What is Junior Bridgeman's Net Worth and Salary?
Junior Bridgeman is an American retired professional basketball player and an accomplished fast-food entrepreneur with a net worth of $600 million. Although he had a moderately successful 12-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers, Bridgeman's post-basketball business ventures made him one of the richest athletes in history. He transformed his NBA earnings into a vast empire of fast-food franchises, especially within the Wendy's brand. His journey serves as a model for career transition after sports.
Early Life
Born Ulysses Lee Bridgeman in 1953 in East Chicago, Indiana, Junior was raised in a blue-collar family. His father worked at a steel mill, a common job at the time. From a young age, he demonstrated significant talent in basketball, leading his high school team to a state championship in 1971. Standing at 6'5", Bridgeman played both guard and forward positions at the University of Louisville, where he was a fraternity member of Alpha Phi Alpha. After earning his bachelor's degree, he was drafted 8th overall in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers but was immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
NBA Career
Junior Bridgeman's NBA career spanned 12 years, during which he scored 11,517 career points. He spent 10 years with the Milwaukee Bucks and two with the Los Angeles Clippers. As mostly a sixth man, he consistently averaged double figures in scoring for nine consecutive seasons. He holds the record for the most games played in Milwaukee's franchise history at 711, although he only started in 105 of those games.
NBA Salary and Career Earnings
Playing in an era before NBA salaries skyrocketed, Bridgeman's peak salary was $350,000 from the Clippers in 1985. Recognizing the finite nature of his basketball career, Junior proactively sought alternative income sources. He invested in a Wendy's franchise, a brand he admired.
Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Wendy's Franchises
While many NBA players relaxed during the offseason, Bridgeman worked at Wendy's, learning the business from the ground up. By retirement, he owned three Wendy's franchises. He later expanded Bridgeman Foods Inc., growing the business from three locations to over 160 Wendy's and more than 120 Chili's franchises. His hands-on approach, including working behind the counter himself, played a significant role in the business's success.
Once, a customer was shocked to see Junior making fries and called a radio show to express dismay, assuming the former NBA star had fallen on hard times. In reality, this was a testament to his dedication and work ethic.
Bridgeman Foods, Inc.
By 2016, Bridgeman Foods Inc. operated over 160 Wendy's and 120 Chili's locations, employing more than 11,000 people, and generating annual revenues exceeding $530 million. Junior was the world's second-largest Wendy's franchise owner and frequently cited as an admired business leader. He also became a franchisee for Fazoli's and Blaze Pizza. In 2016, he sold his fast-food empire, with the parent company of Chili's buying back 116 of his franchises, which generated $300 million annually.
Julius Erving (left) and Junior Bridgeman (right) via Getty
Coca-Cola Bottling
In 2017, Bridgeman expanded his enterprise by becoming a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company. In 2018, he signed a letter of intent to acquire bottling operations in Canada. As the President and CEO of Coca-Cola Heartland, he oversees operations spanning across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Nebraska, alongside his son Justin. The company supports numerous charitable organizations including Crittenton Children's Center at St. Luke's Hospital and the Crisis Nursery and St. Patrick Center in St. Louis. Despite unsuccessfully bidding to purchase Sports Illustrated in 2018, Bridgeman remains an influential business figure.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Personal Life
Junior Bridgeman has been married to his wife Doris for over 35 years. They have three adult children, all holding MBAs and actively involved in the family business. In recognition of his contributions to basketball, his #2 jersey was retired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988.
Junior has been instrumental in supporting basketball camps and educational initiatives, including a boys' school for homeless children in Louisville. He also serves on the board of the PGA, reflecting his ongoing commitment to philanthropy and community service.
