Born in 1978, Jessica Olsson is one of the most powerful women in the world today.
The Kenyan Woman is married to Dirk Nowitzki, one of the greatest and wealthiest players to come from Germany and grace the American National Basketball Association (NBA).
Here’s her story as told by WoK.
Early Life
Jessica was born and raised in the city of Gävle, Sweden. Her father is Swedish and her mother, Njeri Waikwa, is a Kenyan from Nanyuki. She grew up alongside her twin younger brothers, Marcus and Martin Olsson, both of whom are footballers.
While her brothers spent hours in the football field every day, she developed a deep interest in art. She was also curious about her background, both Swedish and Kenyan.
Career
We were delighted to welcome Jessica Olsson, the Kenyan wife of billionaire NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, to explore the Nairobi National Museum.
Accompanied by our very own Director of Antiquities, Sites and Monuments, and senior research scientist Dr. Fredrick Manthi, Jessica, pic.twitter.com/ORbi01JQO6— National Museums of Kenya (@museumsofkenya) March 5, 2023
Olsson studied art during her time at school. Before she met with Dirk Nowitzki she was employed at Goss-Michael Foundation art gallery in Dallas as an associate director.
According to reputable media, Olson has considerable net worth estimated authoritatively at over $1 million, as the director of her art gallery in Dallas.
On top of that she is also known to be a proprietor of her husband’s holdings. Dirk Nowitski has a net worth of $140 million, with his annual salary being an average of $22.7 million.
Nowitski has earned an incredible $250 million just from his NBA salary with the Dallas Mavericks, but has other sources of income in endorsement deals, primarily with the shoe brand Nike.
Life with Dirk Nowitzki
Jessica Olsson first met Dirk Nowitzki during a charity event for Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEED) Project in Dallas in 2010. At the auction, Dirk reportedly made a bid for an item so that he would get to meet Jessica.
“I think we just clicked intellectually. She likes art, she likes sports. Her brothers both played soccer. She grew up around sports. We both love tennis and we love to travel. We both love kids and family,” Nowitzki told Dallas News at the time.
Jessica and Dirk became engaged on Valentine’s Day of 2012, and got legally married on July 20, 2012, in their Dallas home. Before the ceremony, the two also took part in a traditional Kikuyu Ruracio, where Dirk was asked to find his wife amongst five veiled women covered in leso from head to toe to show his love – he didn’t miss her and he soon fish her out to much joy and amusement of the locals.
The couple then left for their honeymoon in the Caribbean.
Family Life
The couple welcomed their first child together in July 2013, a daughter named Malaika. Two years later, they gave birth to their second child, a son named Max. Then in 2016, they had their third child, another son named Morris.
While the couple is raising their children as American citizens, they go out of their way to ensure their kids grow up to become international citizens. They often take them on trips to Kenya, Sweden, and Germany to expose them to the cultures and traditions of their parents.
They live in a neighborhood called Millionaire’s Row, with a residence that is valued at $8 million.
