Jordan marketing chief: Star gets $10M for just lending name

Published Aug. 13, 2015 1:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

CHICAGO (AP) Michael Jordan's marketing chief says the six-time NBA champion often receives millions for lending his name to a product but doing nothing else.

Estee Portnoy's remarks came Thursday on the first full day of testimony in a civil trial in Chicago federal court examining the market value of Jordan's identity.

The issue is damages that the now-defunct Dominick's Finer Foods owes the ex-Chicago Bull for invoking his name in a steak ad without permission.

His attorneys say such use is worth $10 million. Dominick's says that's too high when only Jordan's name is used.

But Portnoy testified that the XEl fragrance company paid $10 million for putting his name on cologne.

Asked if Jordan did anything other than lend his name, she responded, ''Michael does not do anything for them.''