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

Michael Jordan, a father and grandfather, is an NBA champion who faced a widely publicized DNA dispute during his career. A woman alleged that he had promised her millions of dollars upon his retirement.

Despite personal challenges, Michael’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, with his first departure 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.

Michael’s off-court life faced challenges when he had an affair with singer Karla Knafel from 1989 to 1991. Their relationship took place in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Phoenix.

In November 1990, Karla discovered she was pregnant and believed Michael was the father. To keep their relationship and the potential paternity quiet, Michael reportedly offered her $5 million. However, blood and DNA tests after the child’s birth in July 1991 confirmed he was not the father.

Following the revelation, Michael’s legal battles with Karla ensued. In 2002, he sued her, alleging that she had attempted to extort him by threatening to reveal their affair.

Court documents revealed that Karla initially agreed to a $250,000 settlement after tests showed the child was not his. The singer claimed that the specified amount was meant to compensate for the “mental pain and anguish” from her relationship with Michael.

She alleged that when she told him she was pregnant, he urged her to consider abortion, which she refused. Karla further divulged that he offered the payment to settle their issues, but after his retirement, she continued pressing him to fulfill this promise. As a result, she later demanded $5 million.

However, circuit Judge Richard A. Siebel ultimately ruled in Michael’s favor in 2003, siding with his attorney, Frederick J. Sperling, who argued that the payment Karla sought was essentially “extortion money.”

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, 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.

In addition to his legal battles, 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, saying 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, followed in his footsteps on the court, playing college basketball for the UCF Knights men’s team.

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.