Michael Jordan casually gave his $331,000 Ferrari 550 Maranello to sporting legend as a Christmas present
Published on Jul 28, 2025 at 7:12 AM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jul 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player to ever live, and his Ferrari was just as iconic.
The NBA icon spent his entire career with the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA championships in the process.
As famous as Jordan was on the court, he was equally as renowned for his displays of wealth off it, as well.
In fact, Michael Jordan once gave his $331,000 Ferrari 550 Maranello to a legendary teammate as a Christmas present.
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Michael Jordan gifts Scottie Pippen his Ferrari 550 Maranello
Michael Jordan is equally famous for his displays of wealth away from the basketball court as he is for his skill on it.
His golf games, for example, are legendary for the scale of bets placed on single holes being won or lost.
Even ESPN’s documentary, The Last Dance, showed Jordan betting big money against security guards in random contests before stepping on the court.
But it is a car-focused display of generosity that is the subject of today’s story.
Christmas 1997 saw the Chicago Bulls celebrating their 5th NBA championship at the expense of the Utah Jazz.
And two of the team’s most important players got each other some incredible gifts.
Michael Jordan and teammate Scottie Pippen got each other the most unbelievable presents.
Chicago reporter Melissa Isaacson told the incredible story in a 2010 column for ESPN.
“For the Christmas of ’97, Pippen had an earring made for Jordan – a diamond-encrusted replica of the NBA championship trophy,” according to Isaacson.
Jordan had initially planned to give Pippen a box of cigars – the love of which Jordan is famous for.
Instead, according to Isaacson, Jordan ‘reconsidered and instead gave him his red Ferrari, which Pippen had long admired.’
“He wanted it so bad – It wasn’t a double locker, but it would do”, said Jordan.
To give it some context, Jordan’s Ferrari 550 Maranello was worth $170,000 back in 1997.
That makes it worth around $331,000 in today’s money – not a bad Christmas gift, eh?
Jordan widely considered to be the greatest ever
As most are probably aware, Michael Jordan is widely thought of as the greatest NBA player ever.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the 1984 NBA draft.
1985 would see Jordan wow the masses, winning Rookie of the Year that season.
By the end of his incredible career, Michael Jordan earned 14 All-Star selections.
The NBA icon led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships, with two three-peats.
The No. 23 would also win the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in every single one of those Finals wins.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
