On the 70th anniversary of the first issue of Sports Illustrated, which featured Milwaukee Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews on the cover, cllct decided to look at the cover count – which athletes have been on the most covers.
Because we are who we are, we are also telling you how much each athlete's most expensive issue has sold for at auction.
(Please Note: These totals don't include where these athletes are featured in the background somewhere. They also do not include inset images, commemorative covers or SI for Kids.)
1. Michael Jordan: 50 covers
Michael Jordan has been on an astounding 50 SI covers.
His most valuable cover is his third one, "A Star Is Born," which is his first cover in a Bulls uniform. In August 2023, Heritage sold a CGC graded 9.8 copy for $126,000, the all-time record for a graded SI. In fact, it's the only SI that has ever sold for more than $40,000. Three 9.6's of "The Star Is Born" sold for $36,000, $33,600 and the latest, $22,200).
Fun fact: The photo on the cover of this magazine (Dec. 10, 1984, issue), was taken on Nov. 21, 1984, just four days after MJ wore his Air Jordans for the first time in an NBA game.
2. Muhammad Ali: 40 covers
It's no surprise Ali has been on 40 covers given how long he was the most relevant person in the sports world.
While we are partial to his Februry 1964 cover of the champ with $1 million in a bank vault, his highest sale has been a graded first cover from 1963 that sold for $13,200 in Aug. 2022 at Heritage.
3. LeBron James: 36 covers
The fact SI called LeBron "The Chosen One," and he actually became who he did, is awesome, which is why we absolutely love the first cover. In August 2022, a CGC 9.8 version of this magazine sold for $9,000. The jersey he wore on this cover sold for $512,000 at Juliens in 2021.
4. Tom Brady: 33 covers
It's pretty amazing Brady is one only two NFL players on the Top 10 covers list, blowing away No. 2 Peyton Manning (18).
Although it doesn't count in the tally, Brady's most valuable cover is the commemorative issue from his first Super Bowl title. A CGC 9.8 sold for $13,800 in March 2022. The market hasn't held up well, as another 9.8 sold for $3,120 in June.
5. Magic Johnson: 23 covers
The back and forth between the Lakers and the Celtics in the '80s meant there were a lot of covers for Magic.
Johnson won five titles with the Lakers, which is the reason why he edges Larry Bird (three titles with the Celtics, 16 covers). Interestingly, Johnson's most valuable covers is one of his last. A CGC 9.8 1998 cover, which features Johnson and Kobe Bryant, making his SI debut, sold for $7,800 in 2022.
T6. Jack Nicklaus and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 22 covers
No surprises here from Nicklaus and Jabbar, who are the only two left in the Top 10 whose first covers came in the 1960s.
The most paid for a Nicklaus SI was for a raw copy of his first appearance, which sold for $1,500 on eBay last year. Kareem's top sale is a CGC 8.0 of his first cover in 1969, when he was still known as Lew Alcindor.
8. Kobe Bryant: 21 covers
How great is it that Kobe is No. 8. The only thing that would have been more perfect would be for him to have been on 24 covers. Bryant's high sale is the one mentioned above, a cover that he shares with Magic.
9. Tiger Woods: 20 covers
If there's one athlete who seems low on this list, it's Tiger.
Maybe it's because Woods' covers have been more memorable, but 20 seems light. Our favorite? The 2001 "Masterpiece" issue featuring Tiger and the crowd for a drive on 18 at Augusta.
Tiger issues haven't really popped as much as others. His top graded issue was a CGC 9.8 "Guts and Glory" from 2000, which sold for $1,500.
T10. Shaquille O'Neal and Peyton Manning, 18
What's more shocking? That there's not a single baseball player on this list? That there's not a single woman? Or that 50 percent of the list includes basketball players that have played on the Lakers? Of anyone on this list, Shaq is the most versatile, having represented five teams on the cover (LSU, Magic, Lakers, Heat and Cavs). Manning getting on 18 covers, despite only winning two Super Bowls, is impressive.
Shaq doesn't really have an impressive SI sale, while Peyton's first cover in a CGC 9.4 sold for $870 in 2021.
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectible market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.