Michael Jordan's former Ferrari 550 Maranello has become the most expensive example of the model sold at public auction, fetching a staggering $2.7 million.The 1997 Ferrari was offered through JOOPITER after spending more than two decades away from the public eye. The final price dramatically exceeded the auction house's $700,000 to $1.3 million estimate and established a new public-auction record for the Ferrari 550 Maranello. The sale attracted 43 bids during two weeks of online bidding.The car's connection to Jordan dates back to May 29, 1997, when it was delivered to him through Foreign Cars Italia in Greensboro, North Carolina. Finished in Rosso Barchetta with a tan leather interior, the Ferrari carried an Illinois vanity plate reading "MJ 5."The 550 Maranello became part of Jordan's life during one of the most successful periods of his basketball career. On June 13, 1997, after the Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship, Jordan drove out of the United Center in the Ferrari with the championship trophy.This particular 550 also received modifications to accommodate Jordan's 6-foot-6 frame. Its driver's seat was altered with extended rails and slimmer padding, while the original factory warranty card remains with the car and includes Jordan's signature and Durham, North Carolina address.Underneath the bodywork is a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V12 producing 485 horsepower, paired with a six-speed gated manual transmission. Ferrari produced just 3,083 examples of the 550 Maranello between 1996 and 2001, according to the JOOPITER listing.The Ferrari's influence went beyond Jordan's personal collection. Nike designer Tinker Hatfield used the car as inspiration for the Air Jordan XIV, incorporating design elements associated with the Maranello into the basketball shoe. Jordan debuted the XIV during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, when he hit the championship-winning shot against the Utah Jazz with 5.2 seconds remaining.Jordan drove the Ferrari for roughly 6,400 miles, including trips to Bulls games, practices, and public appearances. He eventually sold it through Lake Forest Sportscars in Illinois on December 4, 2002. The car remained out of the spotlight until its rediscovery in 2026.Its return followed a decade-long search by CURATED co-founder John Temerian. A partial chassis number found in an old online forum helped researchers reconstruct the Ferrari's full VIN and trace it through historical Ferrari dealer records. The car was eventually located with a California owner and returned to Chicago on May 29, 2026.Now, the Ferrari's $2.7 million result has added another chapter to its unusual history, making Jordan's former 550 Maranello a record-setting collector car.
