Michael Jordan broke 'big' rule with $80m purchase after developing phobia which changed his life

Michael Jordan set himself a rule after two traumatic incidents in his life - though he ended up breaking it in typical fashion.

The six-time NBA champion was known for his completely fearless mentality, which allowed him to achieve greatness on the court and in the business world.

But when he was a child, Jordan witnessed two horrifying events that would have a monumental impact on him.

When he was just seven years of age, a powerless Jordan watched on as his "very good friend" drowned.

'MJ' desperately tried to hold on to his pal but the current was too much and he too was on the verge of joining him.

In the end, he had no choice but to release his mate.

“I went swimming with a very good friend one day, and we were having fun catching waves," Jordan told Playboy magazine years later in 1992.

"At one point, the current was so strong that it swallowed him, and he grabbed onto me. It’s called 'the death lock' when someone can die. I practically had to break his hand, he was going to take me with him.”

Image: Getty

A pattern in water began to emerge. Just four years later, while at baseball camp, Jordan experienced a drowning scare himself.

Then, a former girlfriend drowned on vacation while he was in college and that resulted in Jordan developing hydrophobia - an extreme or irrational fear of water.

In his autobiography 'For the Love of the Game: My Story', he claimed he would steer clear of water for the rest of his life.

"I'm not going in the water anymore," he declared.

"Everyone has a phobia about something. I stay away from water."

Yet it appears as though the Chicago Bulls icon did overcome his fear in a sense.

In 2016, it was reported that Jordan splashed out $80 million dollars on a luxurious superyacht.

Image: Getty

The vessel, which is 230 feet in length and has a basketball court, is known as 'Joy'.

But despite being a little more comfortable, Jordan does still have two water-related rules.

He said: “Only big ones [boats], not small ones, and I need a life jacket.”