Story perspectives

Michael Jordan 1998 Finals jersey sells for $14 million

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Firman Buys Jordan Jersey

U.S. real-estate investor Ron Firman bought Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey for $14 million.
The red Bulls road jersey was worn in Game 2 versus Utah on June 5, 1998.
The sale set a basketball-memorabilia world record and ranks second for any sports jersey.
It is the third 1998 Finals Jordan jersey sold above $10 million, after $10.1 M (2022) and $12.3 M sales.

Summary

Hunt Elevates Memorabilia

David Hunt said the sale elevates sports memorabilia to an elite asset class.
The jersey changed hands only once since its 2003 purchase from the Bulls.
Ron Firman, a Miami real-estate investor, also owns several other rare collector items.
The 2020 ‘Last Dance’ documentary continues to drive intense collector demand for Jordan’s 1998 Finals memorabilia.
Jordan’s Game 2 sneakers sold for $2.2 million in 2023, setting a sneaker-value record.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, Sotheby's auctioned a 1972 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card for $1.1 million, the first sports-card to breach the million-dollar barrier. The sale, overseen by auctioneer David L. Cook, attracted 27 bidders and generated a 12 % premium over the pre-sale estimate of $980,000. Today's $14 million purchase of Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey by Ron Firman mirrors that breakthrough, showing memorabilia now command ten-fold values. The precedent suggests future auctions, like the 2023 $2.2 million Jordan sneaker sale, will further cement sports collectibles as high-yield investment assets.

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Firman Buys Jordan Jersey

U.S. real-estate investor Ron Firman bought Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey for $14 million.
The red Bulls road jersey was worn in Game 2 versus Utah on June 5, 1998.
The sale set a basketball-memorabilia world record and ranks second for any sports jersey.
It is the third 1998 Finals Jordan jersey sold above $10 million, after $10.1 M (2022) and $12.3 M sales.

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