Basketball icon Michael Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello sold for a record price at Joopiter’s ‘Driven to Greatness’ auction.
Renowned as one of the best to ever grace the basketball court, Michael Jordan was also known to drive an array of now-iconic vehicles during his time in the NBA (National Basketball Association). One of these was a 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello, which became a staple in the former Chicago Bulls player’s garage during his championship years. Jordan was famously photographed behind the wheel of this example after winning his fifth NBA title in June of the car’s model year. A nod to the championship win, the vehicle’s number plate was ‘MJ 5’. The exterior is finished in Rosso Barchetta, with the interior upholstered in tan leather. The vehicle remains a collector’s item long after Jordan parted ways with it in 2002.
Now, Jordan’s 550 Maranello has been sold for a record price at Joopiter’s ‘Driven to Greatness’ auction; fetching a staggering $2.7 million, or R44 976 465 at the current Rand-Dollar exchange rate. Noteworthy, that’s more than double what was originally expected. Indeed, Jordan’s 550 Maranello was estimated to clear up to $1.3 million before bidding kicked off. The auction took place from 15 September to 1 October 2026 in New York.
“This isn’t just a world-record price for a Ferrari 550 Maranello. It’s a testament to the passion surrounding Michael Jordan, to Ferrari collectors, and to a new generation chasing the icons of the 1990s and early 2000s”, said Curated CEO John Temerian, who tracked down the car.
Built in Italy, the 550 Maranello is powered by a 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 producing 357 kW and 569 N.m of torque – the former and the latter available from 7 000 and 5 000 r/min, respectively. Power is exclusively sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Ventilated discs feature on all four corners.
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