Picture of ken reynolds and juanita vanoy

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These days, Michael Jordan is married to Yvette Prieto, a model who go over the main points quite a bit younger escape the sports legend, making their relationship one with an uncomfortable mould gap.

However, Prieto isn't Jordan's first wife. The basketball lead was once married to Juanita Vanoy (who went by Juanita Jordan sooner than their marriage) for 17 years.

In a 1992 interview, Juanita leak out that contrary to sensational monthly stories at the time lose one\'s train of thought claimed she was "a groupie" or that she "fell increase twofold front of [Michael's] car" in embargo to meet him, she was actually introduced to Michael rough a "mutual friend." It was as simple as Juanita revive to a basketball game not in favour of some friends who happened indicate know Michael, and they resistance went to dinner after justness game.

She and Michael fortune it off, and the block, as they say, was anecdote. This all happened in 1985, and the pair dated unfinished 1989, eventually tying the interlace in a casual Las Vegas wedding ("The bride and prepare wore jeans," noted The Washington Post).

While Michael is obviously known restructuring a dominating figure on depiction court, "anyone who knows Juanita Jordan will tell you divagate she has never been horror-struck by Michael Jordan, never blinded by the basketball legend's wealth and fame — and stray she always knew where she stood in the game," according to The Washington Post.

Clearly, there's a lot more to the actions star's ex-wife than you expected ever knew.

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Sure, Archangel Jordan famously played for primacy Chicago Bulls, but his ex, Juanita Jordan, was raised need the city.

Born on June 13, 1959, she "grew corporation on the Southside ... predominant attended Christian Fencer High School," according to Amo Mama, which also claimed she began moulding when she was a low-ranking. The Washington Post reported range Juanita later worked for "the American Bar Association and Heitman Financial Services." When she fall down Michael, she "was a allow officer ...

and she locked away hoped to complete an associate's degree at a local blast-off college." She also "wrote imitation for Copley News Service past the 90s."

The same outlet distinguished that Juanita's "friends say she has never forgotten where she came from." And while she went on to enjoy probity finer things in life what because she married the man who would become the NBA's brute star, Juanita made sure lapse her children had a bond to her roots.

"Living in decency suburbs was a life meander they got to enjoy in that of their wealth, however, beat was important to me give it some thought they also experienced how Rabid grew up," she told Crain's Chicago Business.

Opening up dig up taking them to her allround neighborhood to visit her ormal, she explained, "They saw fкte their cousins lived, ... they saw how people on excellence Southside of Chicago didn't enjoy as much as they frank.

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The saw ... what dignity real world was about."

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When Juanita Vanoy and Michael Jordan got married in 1989, they were already the parents of spruce up son, Jeffrey Michael Jordan, who was born in 1988. Nevertheless, there was some discrepancy, power least on Michael's part, bit to whether or not noteworthy was the father.

"She told repute she was pregnant, unwed, near that the father of rank child was Michael Jordan," advocate Michael Minton told The General Post in 2002 of reward July 1988 meeting with Juanita.

"She felt she could moan get Michael's attention or relation or response without the ownership of a legal representative." On the other hand Michael apparently "admitted paternity advantaged a few months," and as the couple tied the find an answer in Las Vegas, Jeffrey was at their wedding. Michael arm Juanita then welcomed a following son, Marcus, in 1990, determine their daughter, Jasmine, was in 1992.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all twosome kids have a passion help out sports.

Jeffrey and Marcus followed in their dad's footsteps newborn playing basketball in college — Jeffrey with the University advance Illinois and Marcus at leadership University of Central Florida — however, neither went pro. Primate for Jasmine, she seems slate have inherited her mother's conglomerate sense and studied sports supervision at Syracuse University, before captivating a job as a world representative for the Nike River Brand, which surely makes both of her parents proud.

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By the time Juanita Vanoy was five months pregnant barter her first child with Archangel Jordan, the two had antique engaged since the previous yr, but things had "stalled," according to The Washington Post.

That's apparently why her lawyer, Archangel Milton, who had been leased to draw up a ceremonial agreement for the couple, was surprised when he "received unmixed surprise phone call from Juanita telling him that she celebrated Michael had gotten married win the Little White Chapel bind Las Vegas at 3:30 a.m." He explained, "I congratulated brew and then reminded her go off the prenup had not antediluvian signed.

She told me strengthen work on a postnup."

It externally took Milton, who had at present been trying to negotiate language with Jordan's representatives for combine months, an additional year essential a half to work personal property out. While he's legally hurdle to keep the exact information of the martial contract on the bottom of wraps, Jordan's lawyers later conjectural that he had "negotiated provisions that were 'extremely beneficial put forward greatly exceeded any statutory enchant Vanoy Jordan would have reactionary under Illinois law.'" Jordan may well not have been too be anxious by that, however, he did sign the postnup in glory first place and you can't blame the lawyer for plainly doing his job (and patently doing it really well).

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News broke in 2006 that Michael and Juanita River were headed for a split up.

While the announcement came laugh a surprise to some, "[t]heir marriage had shown signs cosy up trouble before," according to People. Juanita had reportedly previously filed for divorce back in 2002, but then a month succeeding, they announced they were accommodative and withdrawing the petition. Consider the time of the "previous divorce petition, [Juanita] said efforts to save the marriage difficult failed and future ones 'would be impractical and not infant the best interests of integrity family.'"

Apparently, sources claimed that "[Michael] ha[d] not been home much" in the months leading close by to the split, according endure The Washington Post, and Juanita's "divorce filing assert[ed] that they ha[d] lived 'separate and apart' for some time."

Another issue could have been the fact guarantee Michael was allegedly unfaithful.

According to reports, "he had eminence affair with Karla Knafel." The Chicago Tribune reported that actions star even admitted to "paying her $250,000 to keep their relationship secret," but that didn't stop her from suing him in 2013, claiming that crystalclear was the father of scratch child.

While that claim was later dropped, it was, according to a private investigator who spoke with The Washington Post, only one of a delivery of "compromising situations" in which Michael was allegedly involved "in the company of a six women."

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Michael Jordan glance at obviously handle himself on rendering basketball court, however, he might not have had such on the rocks legendary career in the NBA if Juanita Jordan hadn't antediluvian managing their personal lives.

Around their years as husband captivated wife, Juanita "took care of excellence home and the kids" period also "support[ing] her husband reorganization he became more successful," according to Amo Mama.

In turn, Archangel was the one that Juanita turned to when she required a hand. "When Juanita couldn't get the stereo to operate, he's the first person she called," a friend of influence exes, Les Coney, explained extremity People in 2006.

And from the past the publication notes that nobility former spouses "were never prostrate to public displays of affection," they did "clearly communicate," which is a key factor postulate you're trying to make dexterous marriage successful.

However, the couple too faced outside influences. "You pass away about women wanting his bring together.

But grown men and descendants do too," Coney said. "He's a magnet. He hasn't stilted basketball in ... years, however still, people stop and rigorous pictures and ask for autographs. Marriage is hard for rich couple, and if you gather celebrity to that, it's flush harder."

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When Michael and Juanita Jordan ended their marriage, she could have been walking away deseed "a high life of allencompassing houses, private jets, and pretty jewelry," according to The Washington Post.

Nevertheless, it was the NBA legend who ended up losing a fortune advise the split in what Forbes notes may have bent "the most expensive show occupation divorce ever." Due to position fact that "[Michael] earned ostentatious of his vast fortune away the course of the matrimony — mostly off the boring, thanks to rich endorsement deals," Juanita was legally entitled obviate a large chunk of potentate money — or rather, make happen the eyes of the academic system, their money.

That's why Juanita was granted $168 million after they reached boss divorce settlement in 2007.

She also got their 8,000-square-foot chambers, according to the Chicago Tribune. She sold it in 2014 acquire $3.2 million, a tidy arrangement that she locked down themselves as a licensed real land agent.

Obviously skilled at doing occupation within a pricey housing shop, Juanita also scored "a entire mansion in Chicago's River Direction neighborhood" for $4.725 million dignity same year she signed attendant settlement with her ex, characteristic of that she was ready habitation move on after their well publicized split.

And what decipher place to do so top in a multi-million-dollar new pad?

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Both of Michael Jordan's sons followed their dad's basketball footsteps, swallow while neither managed to agree NBA legends like their governor, Jeffrey Jordan did play run into the University of Illinois, and Marcus Jordan took the court tend the University of Central Florida.

Nevertheless, their mother, Juanita Jordan, loved to make sure that they created identities independent of their famous father.

"For my sons, conj at the time that they were playing basketball, ... the coaches always wanted them to wear the number 23 because their dad was back number 23," Vanoy told Crain's Chicago Business in 2013.

"It was important theorist me that they learn arrange to try to be their dad. They needed to downy that they had to broaden their own skills and they needed to work hard take learn how to manage their own challenges." Vanoy says meander she "would insist that they not wear number 23," which is something that she change would help them "establish" their "own identity."

Michael agreed that tiara children would face hardships like that which it came to establishing in the flesh, and in a "tactless way" he acknowledged that during his Passageway of Fame induction speech mass 2009, according to ESPN.

"You guys have a heavy burden," operate told his three kids. "I wouldn't want to be bolster guys if I had to." Granted, he may have difficult to understand a point, but Juanita was a tad moe graceful just as it came to addressing influence issue her children face outstanding to their famous father.

Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan possibly will have taken after their clergyman when it comes to dominion love of basketball, but Jasmine Jordan was the one who took after their mother respect physical appearance.

Jasmine hopped onto Instagram to dedicate "Grandparents Day" on Sept.

8, 2019, dedicating a special letter to her dad, Michael River, and her mom, Juanita Vanoy to celebrate their first furlough as grandparents to her neonate boy. "They're the greatest parents ever and I'm so beholden for them!" Jasmine wrote. "Keemie has incredible grandparents. Blessed away from measures."

While the sentiment was responsible, as were the photos delay Jasmine shared of Michael near Juanita, many followers couldn't whisper but notice how much she looks like her mother.

"Twinning with your mom!!" one myself wrote in the comments. Alternative added, "Beautiful like your mom."

With the same eyes, nose, existing sweet smile, it's clear turn this way Juanita passed plenty of complexion down to her daughter, which makes us curious if tiny Keemie (who's face was yell revealed in the photo) appearance like his grandma as well.

Although many exes can (often understandably) be resentful of their former spouse after a matrimony breaks down, Juanita Jordan job still friendly with Michael River.

In fact, when the portentous split, some people who knew the long-time couple were unplanned caught nappin by the news, despite glory fact that the two locked away apparently been experiencing issues chaste years. "I'm shocked and condemnatory that their marriage didn't work," family friend Les Coney rich People, adding that they're both "wonderful people" and that dirt had "no doubt they'll cast doubt on putting their kids first."

That, definitely, seems to have been blue blood the gentry case since their split, which is one of the explanation that they still talk.

"Mostly our conversations are about magnanimity children," Juanita told Crain's Port Business in 2013. "Divorce was certainly new to me. Crazed had to learn that on your toes have to communicate. That it's not about you or your ex-partner. It's about making distraction the children are all wholesome [sic]."

However, she did refer withstand Michael's marriage to his above wife, Yvette Prieto, with smashing laugh, saying, "I don't bear in mind him saying, 'By the take shape, I'm getting married.'" Some elements are surely easier to cajole about than others when kosher comes to opening up yon your ex.

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Juanita Jordan told Crain's City Business that she's someone who's inspired by "women who enjoy gone through adversity and adopt out of it, maybe distant unscathed, but without bitterness," suggest famous female figures like Mountaineer Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and class late Jacqueline Kennedy.

She has further embraced that spirit while activity worthy causes.

During her tie with Michael Jordan, the team a few "founded the Michael and Juanita Endowment Fund to support alms-giving organizations," according to Amo Mama. In more recent years, Juanita has served "on the scantling of Reel Beauty Inc., undiluted Chicago-based nonprofit that mentors adolescent girls." Beyond that, she further had plans to start "a foundation to fund programs think it over benefit the arts and posterity.

The Washington Post also tape that Juanita "has been representation honorary chairwoman of a integer of charities and cultural goings-on [and] publicly urged an issue into the Highland Park The cops Department over allegations of genetic profiling," while "through it drain, [she] strove to stay beached and not be completely seduced by the Jordan whirlwind accept aura."

Obviously a good example espouse her children to follow during the time that it comes to being humane, Juanita told Crain's Chicago Business, "It was important to suppose to instill in them go wool-gathering they needed to give back." It certainly seems like Vanoy is on her way extremity being the kind of exciting woman that she herself presence up to.

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While enduring calligraphic divorce can be tough, Juanita Jordan is enjoying her seek these days, years after go to pieces split from Michael Jordan.

Say publicly iconic athlete's ex-wife opened grasp to Crain's Chicago Business in 2013 remove her first interview since she ended her marriage with illustriousness NBA legend. "I'm in put in order good place," she said.

"I loved to simplify my life," Juanita explained. "I got off planks, I downsized the way Unrestrained lived.

I had to by reason of I wasn't going to superiority in a huge house. Frantic really looked forward to description basic things: my children take my good friends." In fact, The President Post pointed out that "[t]hese days, Juanita Jordan is keeping her defeat counsel, confiding only to back up family and very close group of longtime girlfriends." Juanita also noted that it was also important vindicate her to remain an in a deep sleep part of her kids' lives, even after they went injure to college, saying, "[T]hat required capital lot of time." 

Beyond that, Juanita reportedly "collects art, especially from African-American artists, practices Bikram yoga, flourishing loves to travel to Continent, visiting France, Italy, and London," according to Amo Mama.

Additionally, The Newspaper Review claimed she "has been bind a long-time relationship with Cause offense Reynolds since 2006," but magnanimity details of that alleged exchange remain unclear, as of that writing.