Michael Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello Sells for Record $2.7 Million
Michael Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello has sold for $2.7 million at JOOPITER, setting a new world auction record for the model and adding another multimillion-dollar result to the market for memorabilia connected to the basketball legend. JOOPITER announced the record following the September 30 conclusion of the auction, which was conducted in partnership with CURATED. The $2.7 million sale was roughly four times the previous auction record for a Ferrari 550 Maranello, according to JOOPITER. The result also crushed the auction house’s original estimate of $700,000 to $1.3 million.
The Ferrari’s connection to Jordan goes back to the height of the Chicago Bulls dynasty. Chassis 108712 was delivered new to Jordan on May 29, 1997, through Foreign Cars Italia in Greensboro, North Carolina. Just over two weeks later, on June 13, Jordan won his fifth NBA championship as the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz. JOOPITER says he left the United Center hours later in this Ferrari, with the championship trophy and his cigar along for the ride.
Finished in Rosso Barchetta over tan leather, the car became closely associated with Jordan during his final championship seasons in Chicago. It wore chrome Speedline wheels and an Illinois vanity plate reading “MJ 5,” while the factory warranty booklet that remains with the car includes Jordan’s signature and his Durham, North Carolina address. Because of Jordan’s 6-foot-6 height, Ferrari is understood to have altered the driver’s seating position with extended seat rails and slimmer padding so the seat could be moved farther back.
The 550 Maranello is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V12 producing 485 horsepower and paired with a six-speed gated manual transmission. JOOPITER lists a top speed of 199 mph and notes that only 3,083 examples were built between 1996 and 2001. Jordan’s car accumulated roughly 6,400 miles as he drove it to Bulls games, practices and public appearances rather than keeping it stored as a showpiece.
The Ferrari also played an unusual role in sneaker history. JOOPITER says Tinker Hatfield looked to Jordan’s 550 Maranello when designing the Air Jordan XIV, incorporating details inspired by the car including quilted leather, tire-tread styling at the heel, sculpted air-vent elements and a shield-shaped Jumpman badge. Jordan famously debuted the Air Jordan XIV during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, when he hit the championship-winning shot against Utah in what became known as “The Last Shot.”
Jordan sold the Ferrari through Lake Forest Sportscars in Illinois on December 4, 2002, after which it largely disappeared from public view for nearly 24 years. CURATED Co-Founder John Temerian spent years trying to locate the car before a partial chassis number discovered in an old online forum helped researchers reconstruct the full VIN. Historical Ferrari dealer records still connected chassis 108712 with Jordan and the “MJ 5” plate, eventually leading the team to a longtime California owner. CURATED acquired the car, and it returned to Chicago on May 29, 2026, exactly 29 years after it was originally delivered to Jordan.
The $2.7 million auction result puts a substantial premium on that history. Rather than being valued solely as a rare Ferrari 550 Maranello, the car carries direct provenance to Jordan’s championship years, extensive photographic associations with the Bulls dynasty and a connection to one of the most famous Air Jordan designs.
The Ferrari sale came just one day after another major Michael Jordan record fell at JOOPITER. His “Last Dance” Game 3 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $12.26 million, setting a new world auction record for an NBA game-worn jersey. Together, the two results highlight the extraordinary demand for pieces with direct ties to Jordan’s championship-era career, whether they come from the court or from his personal collection.