Michael Jordan Rookie Card Sells for $2.5M at Auction, 3rd-Most Ever for NBA Legend

An autographed Michael Jordan rookie card became the third-most expensive trading card to feature the NBA legend when it sold at auction on Thursday for $2.5 million, Will Stern reported for cllct.

The card was sold by JOOPITER, an auction house launched earlier this year by Pharrell Williams.

The bidding started at $2 million. A JOOPITER spokesperson told Stern the card ultimately received a single bid.

The 1986–87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie Card received a Professional Sports Authenticator grade of Mint 9, while Jordan's signature received a PSA grade of Gem Mint 10, JOOPITER reported.

The signature comes from when Jordan signed nine trading cards at his private Florida golf course in 2024, JOOPITER reported. This is the first one of those trading cards to be publicly sold, per Stern.

Cllct's Darren Rovell previously reported that the cosignor who arranged the signing had PSA representatives attend the signing. Some of the cards the cosignor had Jordan sign were PSA 10s with autographs also graded at PSA 10s, which Rovell reported could be worth "at least $1 million each."

The card was originally set to be sold by Sotheby's before it was removed from auction in March. A JOOPITER spokesperson told The Athletic's Larry Holder the cosignor "made a decision that he felt better suited the card."

The record for a Jordan card is held by a 1-of-1, autographed Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Logoman card from the 2003-04 season, which was auctioned by Goldin last June for a record $2.928 million.