Magic Johnson: The Black Millionaire Blueprint for Success

But before the business empire could get off the ground, Magic had to confront head on an ordeal that nearly destroyed his image, his career and, quite frankly, his life. In 1991, Johnson revealed to the world that he was HIV positive, a result from living the Hollywood life to the fullest. He immediately retired from the game and became a tireless advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Most people thought they were looking at a dead man walking,. However, Magic was shaken but not defeated. In fact, only he knew that he was going to defeat it. As he told a reporter years later, “when God gave me this disease, He gave it to the right person.” Due to his unbreakable positive attitude, fastidious adherence to treatment and training, the HIV virus is barely detectable in his system today.

Johnson would attempt several comebacks, once during the NBA All Star game and also during the iconic “Dream Team’s” Gold Medal-winning squad during the 1992 Olympics that included Bird, Jordan, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen and other superstars, and he would eventually return to the Lakers first as a player, then a coach and also as a part-owner.