Michael Jordan Defended His Role as a Father After a DNA Scandal – Meet His 5 Kids & Only Grandchild

Michael Jordan’s impact on basketball is unmatched. As a former player, Olympic athlete, and businessman, he’s celebrated as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships from the 1980s to the 1990s, the basketball star earned five league MVP titles and three All-Star MVPs, making him the most decorated player in NBA history.

Michael retired three times during his 19-year career, departing first in 1993 after the tragic murder of his father, James Jordan. Following a brief stint in baseball, he returned to the NBA, only to retire again in 1999. Later, he joined the Washington Wizards, finally retiring for good at age 40 in 2003.

Despite his celebrated career, Michael’s off-court life faced challenges. From 1989 to 1991, he engaged in an affair with singer Karla Knafel, who discovered she was pregnant in 1991 and believed Michael was the father.

According to Karla, Jordan allegedly offered her $5 million to keep their relationship and the potential paternity quiet, a claim the basketball star denied.

Blood and DNA tests later confirmed he was not the father, after which Michael sued Karla in 2002, accusing her of attempting to extort him by threatening to reveal their affair.

Court documents revealed that Karla initially agreed to a $250,000 settlement. She claimed the amount was meant to compensate for the “mental pain and anguish” from her relationship with Michael. He contended the payment was a confidentiality settlement.

Karla alleged that when she told him she was pregnant, he urged her to consider abortion, which she refused. She further claimed that he promised her $5 million to settle their issues, and after his retirement, she demanded he fulfill this alleged promise.

Jordan denied the agreement, and circuit Judge Richard A. Siebel ultimately ruled in his favor in 2003, finding no enforceable contract.

Judge Siebel concluded, “Because the hush money provision infects the entire agreement, the court finds that the entire agreement between Jordan and Knafel is void and unenforceable as a matter of law.”

In 2013, Michael’s legal challenges took another turn when a woman named Pamela Smith, who claimed he was the father of her 17-year-old child, filed a paternity suit against him.

Michael denied it, and the court ruled in his favor, highlighting that paternity had already been confirmed in 2003, proving he wasn’t the father. The judge called the suit a publicity stunt and ordered Pamela to pay Michael’s legal fees of $9,704.13.

Apart from these paternity suits, Michael is a dedicated father to five children from two marriages. He shares three children—two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, and a daughter, Jasmine—with his first wife, Juanita Vanoy. The couple was married from 1989 until 2006, during which time they focused on raising their family together.

Michael’s daughter, Jasmine, has often captivated social media with her striking looks, drawing admiration from fans. One user commented, “Wow girl you are so unbelievably beautiful,” while another simply wrote, “Beautiful.” A different fan remarked, “looking like your daddy,” recognizing her resemblance to the basketball legend.

Jasmine’s appeal on social media reflects not only her resemblance to her father but also her pride in his incredible legacy. The 2020 docuseries “The Last Dance” gave Michael’s children a new appreciation for his legendary career.

Jasmine noted that as younger generations ask about her father, she and her brothers proudly take on the role of preserving his legacy.

Jeffrey, the eldest child, shared that watching Michael in his prime offered a unique perspective and that it was amazing to see him “in his element.” For Jasmine, who once Googled her father to understand his fame, the series was “eye-opening.”

This deeper understanding of their father’s legacy resonates even more with Michael’s children, particularly as they’ve pursued their own paths. His second son, Marcus, briefly followed in his footsteps on the court, playing college basketball for the UCF Knights men’s team before transitioning to a career in business and entrepreneurship.

Alongside his older children, Michael also welcomed two younger daughters with his second wife, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto. The couple, who tied the knot in an extravagant ceremony on April 27, 2013, in Palm Beach, Florida, introduced their identical twin girls, Victoria and Ysabel, to the world in February 2014.

Their wedding was a grand event attended by 500 guests at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, with an additional 1,500 friends joining the celebration at the Bears Club in Jupiter, near Michael’s sprawling residence.

In addition to his five children, Michael also became a proud grandfather when his daughter Jasmine welcomed a baby boy in May 2019.

Jasmine celebrated her son’s fifth birthday in May 2024. Reflecting on grandparenthood, Michael described it as “fun,” sharing that he enjoys every chance to play and bond with his grandson.

Frequently featured on his mother’s Instagram, Jasmine’s son has charmed online fans who often share their admiration in the comments.

One user wrote, “Big boy,” while another added, “sweetest boy in the world.” On his recent birthday post, a fan exclaimed, “5 already!!?!? 😮 Happy happy birthday!!”

From his celebrated career and legacy to his growing family, Michael Jordan continues to make an impact both on and off the court. His journey from iconic NBA champion to dedicated father and grandfather highlights a life filled with achievement, resilience, and love.