Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman is a case study in how to reinvent yourself. He played 12 years in the NBA from 1975 to 1987. Durning his last few years in the league he started making plans for his life after basketball and was introduced to the fast food franchise business. To learn the business he began working at a local Wendy’s during the offseason.
He scaled his business over the course of 15 years from 3 restaurants to 280. He was able to amass a fortune of $400 million in the process. He’s been an open resource for other athetles interested in getting into business. In 2013 he partnered with ex-NBA legend Chauncey Billups. Together they bought every Wendy’s in the city of Saint Louis, Missouri.
Never one to rest on his laurels, he reinvented himself again in 2016 when he sold all of his restaurants and made an even larger purchase. #blackhistorymonth