Who is Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan?
Sarah Richards
Updated on March 31, 2026
One of the greatest NBA legends, Michael Jordan was born to Deloris Jordan and James Raymond Jordan on February 17, 1963. MJ was the fourth of the five children of the Jordan couple and he spent the most of his childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina. But exactly how much is known about Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan?
Deloris was born in September 1941, in Rocky Point, North Carolina. She attended Charity High School in Rose Hill, where she ultimately met Jordan Sr, Michael’s dad, in 1954. They eventually fell in love and after three years of courtship, the pair got married in 1957.
However, Deloris Jordan is not only known as MJ’s mother. Over the years she has been an active philanthropist and author of many successful books and publications. So exactly how influential was Michael Jordan’s mother in his stellar career?
Who is Michael Jordan’s Mother?
Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan, born Deloris Peoples, is a native of Rocky Point, North Carolina. Although she herself had not played high school basketball, Deloris was an avid spectator of the sport. She regularly went to basketball games where her brothers played and ultimately met James Raymond Jordan during one such game. Jordan Sr, who also happened to be her classmate, asked her out, and the two eventually fell in love.
After high school, Deloris went to Alabama in order to attend a trade school while Jordan joined the Air Force. Later in 1956, Jordan was sent to a base in Virginia, where she, too, moved in. After a three-year courtship, the couple got married and had their first child, James Ronald Ronnie Jr. After the birth of their third child, Deloris joined a bank in New York as a teller and continued working.
Deloris Jordan, philanthropist and mother of the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan was the surprise guest.
— Captain. Enamored Gentleman Panache (@VinieO) March 16, 2023
Michael Jordan was born to the pair on February 14, 1963. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan spent most of his childhood there, and his sister Roslyn was born soon after.
As MJ started off successfully with his NBA career, Deloris paired up with her son and began the Michael Jordan Foundation. The organization primarily helped underprivileged children; later, Jordan’s mother founded the Michael Jordan Education Club. However, Deloris was grief-stricken following the gruesome murder of her husband, Jordan Sr in 1993.
Deloris Jordan: Mother, Author, Philanthropist
In 1996, Deloris, along with her son and his Chicago Bulls teammates, founded the James R. Jordan Foundation. The operations of the Foundation covered academic support for underprivileged children, and Deloris has been serving as its president for about two decades now.
Deloris Jordan’s philanthropic measures crossed international borders. In 2009, she founded the Kenya Women and Children’s Wellness Center in Nairobi, Kenya. She was awarded the prestigious ‘Clinton Award’ in 2005 for her different philanthropic work across the world.
We want to thank Mrs. Deloris Jordan for the invitation and her passion towards women, children and survivors of sexual violence. It's with this kind of collaborations that we are able to streamline service delivery and access to justice. #RestoringDignity
— Wangu Kanja Foundation (@WanguKanjaF) March 15, 2023
Deloris Jordan is a New York Times bestselling author. She has authored and co-authored many children’s books till date. However, amid all her social work and eventful life, Deloris had been an excellent mother to her children. Micahel Jordan has time and again acknowledged his mother’s role in his life and basketball career. Deloris is said to have played an important part in getting Jordan a better deal during his initial partnership with Nike.
Where does Michael Jordan’s mother live?
Deloris has always stayed close to her children throughout her married life. Bron in Rocky Point, North Carolina, she moved across to Virginia, then New York, and eventually back to Wilmington. Deloris currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
What is the estimated Net Worth of Deloris Jordan?
Mother of one of the richest sports personalities in the world, Deloris Jordan has earned her own share of fortune from her authored books and publications. She has an estimated net worth of about $2 million as of 2022. It is worth mentioning MJ is the only billionaire NBA athlete and has a Net Worth of $1.7 billion.
Ben Affleck says he met with Michael Jordan to get his blessing before making #AirMovie and said Michael had a couple demands, one of them was who would play his mother
“I said, ‘Who would you like to play your mom?’ He said, ‘Well, it has to be Viola Davis.”…
— Geek Vibes Nation (@GeekVibesNation) March 20, 2023
Micahel Jordan’s Mother’s Photos
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