Michael Jordan’s lost Ferrari fetches 2.7 million dollars, doubling its estimate

After disappearing from the public eye for nearly a quarter of a century, the front-engined Berlinetta once owned by the greatest basketball player of all time blew past its initial price estimate at Joopiter's sale. Bidding reached far beyond the expected high of 1.3 million dollars.

Delivered new to Michael Jordan in 1997, the Rosso Barchetta 550 Maranello was custom-tailored to accommodate the six-foot-six superstar by pushing back seat rails and thinning cushion padding. Driven home following his fifth NBA title victory at the United Center on June 13, 1997, the manual V12 grand tourer instantly became a valuable piece of American sports history. After Jordan sold the vehicle in 2002, it completely dropped off the grid for 24 years. A persistent search by automotive investigator John Temerian eventually uncovered the time capsule in California, where a private owner had kept it out of sight in his collection. The story came full circle at Pharrell Williams's auction platform, Joopiter, where it shattered all expectations with a final price of 2.7 million dollars. Joopiter had initially communicated an estimate of 700,000 to 1.3 million dollars.