The basketball icon is something of a car enthusiast, with a penchant for exotics and convertibles (and exotic convertibles)
With a fortune like that, Jordan is pretty much free to buy any car he desires. His multi-million dollar collection is a reflection of his passion for premium automobiles, ranging from timeless classics to modern marvels with cutting-edge technology and insane performance. (There are also, you may notice, more than a few convertibles in his garage—the extra headroom helps when you’re as tall as Jordan is.) Here, we check out a few of the gems that have, at one time or another, found a home in Michael Jordan’s garage.
Pininfarina Battista Targamerica
Michael Jordan’s love for the Ferrari Testarossa is well-known, and he’s owned a few of them. It seemed only natural that Pininfarina, the styling studio that happened to design that classic Ferrari, would take some inspiration from a custom 1986 Testarossa created for former Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli when it created the bespoke Battista Targamerica for Jordan.
The predominantly silver paintwork, blue and black detailing, and five-spoke center-lock aluminum rims are all nods to Agnelli’s topless Testarossa. The removable top is a standout feature of the Battista Targamerica, differentiating it from the “standard” hardtop coupe Battista models. Pininfarina also had a custom luggage set made for the basketballer, finished in the same classic tan leather used on the car’s interior. Another personalized touch is the aluminum and glass cigar humidor built in between the two seats, a reflection of the NBA star’s love for expensive cigars.
Interestingly, this is the second Battista in Jordan’s collection. According to Motor Authority, he already owns a standard Battista model, which costs about CDN$3 million (US$2.2 million). No doubt Jordan had to pay a substantial premium over that for bragging rights to the bespoke Battista Targamerica.
Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster
At its heart is a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 6.6-litre V8 engine that generates 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft of torque. That power is fed exclusively to the rear wheels via a seven-speed single-clutch semi-automatic transmission. Like the coupe, the Venom F5 Roadster was built for speed, and Hennessey claims the hypercar can max out north of 300 mph (483 km/h). If true, this would make it the fastest convertible in the world.
In 2023, Jordan took delivery of his Venom F5 Roadster at his private Florida golf club, The Grove XXIII, making him one of the privileged few who can claim ownership of the exclusive automobile. Hennessey plans to build only 30 examples of the Venom F5 Roadster, each priced around CDN$4.2 million (US$3 million).
Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet ‘Flat Nose’
During his playing days, Jordan never shied away from flaunting his love for automobiles, often showing up for training in any one of the prized exotics in his garage. He was particularly fond of Porsches. If you’ve watched The Last Dance, you might remember a white Porsche he drove after the Chicago Bulls won their third championship.
That Porsche was the 930 Turbo Cabriolet ‘Flat Nose’ model. It was essentially a road-going version of the Porsche 935 race car. The 930 stood out with a sloped front end with pop-up lights instead of the traditional 911-style round headlights.
The car was powered by a 282-hp turbocharged 3.3-litre flat-six that could rocket the car to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under five seconds, an impressive figure for that era. The Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet was also reportedly the baller’s inspiration for the Air Jordan VI, first manufactured in 1991 via his partnership with Nike.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car was the product of a successful collaboration between two automobile giants, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. Just over 2,100 units were made during its seven-year production run. The 722 Edition was an even rarer variant, limited to only 150 examples. The number “722” commemorates the late Sir Stirling Moss’s 1955 Mille Miglia victory in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.
Compared to the standard Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the 722 Edition variant boasted a more powerful engine, upgraded suspension, and revised aero elements. The SLR 722 Edition made 641 hp, a 24-hp bump over the regular model, and could reach speeds of 209 mph (337 km/h).
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider
The 488 Pista Spider packs a twin-turbo V8 that cranks out 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. Ferrari has now discontinued the supercar in favour of newer models, but when it was new, the 488 Pista Spider had a base MSRP of about CDN$482,000 (US$350,000).
Ferrari J50
There’s more power, too, compared to a standard Ferrari 488 GTB. The J50 makes 681 hp, an increase of about 20 hp. The Ferrari J50 was sold exclusively to customers in Japan, and it’s not clear how Jordan acquired his own.
His J50 is reportedly finished in Ferrari’s traditional Rosso Corsa paint with black accents and silver wheels. Exclusive cars like the J50 rarely pop up for sale, but when they do, expect them to be accompanied by an astronomical price tag. In 2021, a black example was listed for sale at a whopping CDN$5 million (US$3.6 million)!
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