Magic Johnson | Biography, Documentary, & Facts | Britannica

Later activities and awards

Magic Johnson
Magic JohnsonNBA legend Magic Johnson speaking at the jersey retirement ceremony for Michael Cooper during halftime of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, January 13, 2025.(more)

After his retirement from basketball, Johnson became an extremely successful entrepreneur—his investment firm had estimated holdings of approximately $1 billion as of 2020—and a prominent HIV/AIDS activist. In 2012 he was part of an ownership group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers. He later became co-owner of several other sports teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA (2014), the Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer (2018), and the NFL’s Washington Commanders (2024).

Johnson rejoined the Lakers franchise as an adviser to Jeanie Buss, the team’s owner, in 2017. After spending just weeks in that role, he was promoted to president of basketball operations, giving Johnson control of the Lakers’ front office. After a short and lackluster tenure, he surprisingly resigned at the end of the 2018–19 season, stating that he would rather spend his time as an ambassador of the sport.

Quick Facts Byname of: Earvin Johnson, Jr. (Show more) Born: August 14, 1959, Lansing, Michigan, U.S. (age 66) (Show more) Awards And Honors: Olympic Games National Basketball Association Championship Most Valuable Player Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025) Basketball Hall of Fame (2002) Grammy Award (1992) (Show more) On the Web: CBS News - Magic Johnson opens up about his health, career 30 years after HIV diagnosis: "You just sit there and say, what does this mean? Am I gonna die?" (Feb. 14, 2026) (Show more) See all related content

Johnson was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. They Call Me Magic, a docuseries about Johnson’s life and career, aired in 2022. Three years later he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Pres. Joe Biden.

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