Magic Johnson

Joining the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association in 1979, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born 1959) became one of basketball's most popular stars.

In November of 1991, Magic Johnson stunned the sports world with his announcement that he was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes the disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Johnson announced that he was retiring from professional basketball but returned in 1992 and again in 1996. He turned his enthusiasm and leadership skills to business and philanthropy. Among his successes, he developed movie theaters and shopping malls in poor and neglected sections of large cities where no one else would invest. He also entered sports franchise ownership, purchasing stakes in...