Juanita Vanoy is known for being the first wife of the former professional basketball player, Michael Jordan.
Vanoy was born to John and Dorothy Vanoy on June 13, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised alongside five sisters: Jacqueline Rogers, Gwendolyn Hicks, Margaret Vanoy, Rhonda Armstrong, and Bernetta B.
Let’s get to know more about her.
First Wife of Michael Jordan
Juanita Vanoy and Michael Jordan first met in 1984 at Chicago Bennigan’s restaurant through mutual friends. When the duo first met, the lady was a loan officer at a bank while Jordan was playing for the Bulls.
Source: Instagram
Soon after their first meeting, they started dating and on December 31, 1987, Michael proposed to Juanita. On September 2, 1989, the duo got married at 3.30 AM, at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. On their big day, Michael gifted a five-karat marquise diamond ring to his wife while Juanita gave him a three-carat diamond.
Why and When Did They Separate?
On January 4, 2002, they parted ways and filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. However, they withdrew their petition only a month after.
They separated again and divorced on December 29, 2006. The former basketball player’s extramarital affair with Karla Knafel was deemed as the reason for their divorce.
Shared Three Kids
Juanita Vanoy has shared three kids with her ex-husband, Michael Jordan. They are Jeffrey Michael, Marcus, and Jasmine Jordan.
Source: Instagram
The former pair welcomed their first child Jeffrey Michael Jordan on November 18, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois. Jeffrey has been married to Radina Aneva since 2019.
After two years, Michael and Juanita welcomed their second child, Marcus Jordan on December 24, 1990.
Source: Instagram
Last but not the least, their third child and first daughter, Jasmine Jordan was born on December 7, 1992. Talking about her personal life, she is engaged to Rakeem Chrismas and has a son, Rakeem Michael Christmas (b. May 2019) with him.
Life After Divorce
Following their divorce, Juanita has stayed away from the media. Hence, we don’t know if she ever married afterward.
Source: Instagram
Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Michael Jordan, started dating model, Yvette Prieto and got married to her on April 27, 2013. The pair share twin daughter, Ysabel and Victoria Jordan.
Career
Juanita Vanoy is one of the board members of Reel Beauty Inc. She is also the co-founder of Michael and Juanita Endowment Fund.
She also worked as a model for some years after completing high school. The mother of two also served at the American Bar Association as an executive secretary.
How Much Is Her Net Worth? Divorce Settlement
Juanita Vanoy has an estimated net worth of $200 million. The major portion of her income is from her divorce settlement with her ex-husband, Michael Jordan.
Juanita supposedly received $168 million as a settlement making their divorce one of the largest celebrity settlements at the time. Their settlement also included a mix of properties and assets.
In 2007, she purchased a mansion in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. She paid $4.725 million for the mansion but sold it at a later date for $4.98 million.
Vanoy had also received another property in Lake Shore Drive during her divorce. She sold the 7-acre triplex penthouse for $3.2 million in 2014.
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