Michael Jordan’s 1997 Ferrari Set for Auction via Pharrell’s Joopiter
Joopiter, the digital auction marketplace backed by music producer and creative director Pharrell Williams, is set to offer the 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello originally owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan. Digital bidding on the high-profile vehicle will take place between September 15 and September 30, with a public exhibition scheduled in New York from September 15 to September 20.
The vehicle occupies a notable chapter in both sports lore and automotive collecting. Jordan took delivery and drove the sports car away from the United Center merely hours after winning his fifth NBA championship title in 1997. Tailored specifically for the athlete, the vehicle featured custom-adjusted seat tracks and specialized interior padding to accommodate his height. The exterior is finished in Rosso Barchetta paint, fitted with chrome Speedline wheels, and was originally registered under the Illinois vanity plate “MJ 5” before Jordan sold it in December 2002.
A Catalyst for Global Sneaker Culture
Beyond its automotive credentials, the vehicle holds direct importance in footwear history. Renowned footwear architect Tinker Hatfield utilized the sleek contours of the Ferrari 550 Maranello as the foundation for designing the Air Jordan 14. Jordan subsequently wore that signature model during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, sinking the decisive basket that came to be known as “The Last Shot.”
The car had slipped entirely out of public view for nearly 25 years until it was identified earlier this year. Specialty supercar dealership Curated located the vehicle following a decade-long investigation led by co-founder John Temerian, which ultimately succeeded after a partial chassis identifier was discovered on an archived internet forum.
For the music and entertainment sectors, the sale highlights the expanding footprint of figures such as Pharrell Williams in curating high-value intersections of sports, streetwear, and luxury artifacts. For creative entrepreneurs across Africa and the broader music industry, the convergence of music-backed auction houses and legacy design serves as an example of how cultural artifacts can be effectively preserved, leveraged, and monetized on global platforms.
Source: HotNewHipHop