Julius Erving is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and former basketball player who boasts a net worth of 50 million dollars. He made most of his fortune through his successful basketball career spanning over 15 years. Julius then used the money he made through his basketball career to open various business ventures, which have been quite successful. His fortune might have been more than what it is currently, were it not for the several divorces and affairs he has been involved in.
Early Life
Julius Erving was born in 1950 in East Meadow, Long Island. His family later moved to a town near Hempstead and then Roosevelt, New York, where he spent most of his childhood. Julius attended Roosevelt High School, participating in various co-curricular activities, including basketball. He was part of the school’s basketball team, and it was during his time there he got the nickname Dr. J.
While in high school, Julius Erving met Leon Saunders. The two were quite close and often spent time together. They used to have nicknames for each other; Erving called Saunders Professor, while Saunders called Erving Doctor. The name stuck, and he loved it. At some point, some individuals tried to find nicknames for him. Some were calling him Black Moses, but he said no. He noted that if they wanted to call him anything, they should go with “Dr. J.”
Personal Life
Julius Erving’s personal has been filled with a lot of scandals. His first relationship was with Turquoise Brown. The two met in the early 70s and dated for a while before tying the knot in 1972. Their relationship was initially uneventful until Julius Erving began cheating. He had an affair with Samantha Stevenson, with whom he had a daughter. After realizing that Julius was cheating on her, Turquoise was quite unhappy. However, she did not divorce him quickly. They continued being together, but their relationship was quite rocky.
In 2003, Julius Erving started another romantic relationship with a woman named Madden while still married to Turquoise. This was Turquoise’s breaking point. The two divorced that same year. The couple had four children during their time together. Julius went on to marry Dory’s Madden; they have been together ever since.
Professional Career and Business Ventures
Julius Erving had a successful basketball career spanning about fifteen years. He played for various clubs including Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Virginia Squires. Besides his successful basketball career, Erving ventured into various businesses which contributed to his overall fortune.
In 1976, he signed a shoe endorsement deal and was earning up to 20,000 dollars a year equivalent to 90,000 in 2025. A few years later, the amount increased to 100,000 dollars a year. Additionally, he has invested in various business ventures. He partnered with Larry Bird on a number of business deals.
To wrap it up, Julius Erving made a fortune through his successful basketball career. He did not stop there; he went on and invested in various business ventures that have grown his overall fortune exponentially.
