Michael Jordan is competing in a surprise third sport at 61 after entering tournament with $8 million prize money

Michael Jordan loves money and he loves competition, hence why he's entered a tournament at the ripe age of 61.

Thanks to a combination of savvy investments, his career earnings and the powerhouse Jordan sub-brand with Nike, Jordan is believed to be have a net worth of around $3.2billion.

And yet this week the Chicago Bulls icon has been involved in a fishing competition taking place in Ocean City, Maryland.

The White Marlin Open is a four-day event which has been going on since 1974.

This year's tournament runs through until August 9 and the prize money is set at a cool $8 million.

As per the Daily Mail, Jordan was on his $7 million 'Catch 23' superyacht, which was built in 2018 and has a 216 square-foot cockpit for deep fishing.

Jordan has been seen puffing on a cigar as he often does but as per delmarvanow.com, it was his vessel which scored a big win - with angler Patrick Fields catching a 32.5lbs mahi with 45 minutes to spare on day two.

Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time and won six NBA titles - with three either side of a brief switch to baseball with the Chicago White Sox at the age of 29.

Image: Getty

Fond of poker and golf, he clearly enjoys open sea fishing and took the top spot at The Shootout tournament in Bahamas back in May.

It is a miracle that 'MJ' entertains water given traumatic events which happened when he was a youngster.

Just seven years of age, Jordan watched on as his "very good friend" drowned - with no choice but to release him as the current as on the verge of taking him too.

In addition, a former girlfriend of his drowned on vacation while he was in college.

He went on to develop an extreme fear of water and said he would "stay away" from it in his autobiography 'For the Love of the Game: My Story'.