Basketball legend Michael Jordan HALVES the starting price of his $29m mansion but still fails to attract a single bidder

  • Not a single bidder met the $13m reserve price during Monday's auction which required a $250,000 down-payment just to participate
  • Realtors expected to try again in the new year for the home which comes with a $180k annual tax bill
  • Jordan designed and built the highly personalized property 20 years ago at the height of his career
  • His 'jumping man' logo and famous 23 shirt number feature heavily throughout the nine bedroom, 19 bathroom property
  • It boasts an NBA size basketball court and PGA standard putting green

By Aaron Sharp and David Mccormack

PUBLISHED: 11:45 EST, 17 December 2013 | UPDATED: 18:53 EST, 17 December 2013

Despite his best efforts, including an elaborate promo video, Michael Jordan has failed to find a single bidder interested in meeting the reserve price of $13m for his 56,000-square-foot mansion near Chicago.

The failure of Monday’s auction has forced realtors working for the basketball legend to shelve the proposed sale until the new year.

Jordan had originally placed the fully furnished Legend Point estate up for sale in March 2012 for $29 million.

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Grand entrance: The complex's gate bears the unmistakable '23', Jordan's iconic shirt number for the Chicago Bulls

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Despite his best efforts, including an elaborate promo video, Michael Jordan has failed to find a single bidder interested in meeting the reserve price of $13m for his 56,000-square-foot mansion near Chicago

Secluded: Michael 'Air' Jordan planted trees all around the property to make it a private retreat

Secluded: Michael 'Air' Jordan planted trees all around the property to make it a private retreat

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The property is being sold with all the furniture included, meaning a buyer can eat where the legendary Chicago Bulls player staged 'breakfast clubs' with his title winning team mates

At the time, it was the highest-priced home in the Chicago area, with the tax bill on the property set at $178,900 in 2012, according to public records.

‘We are disappointed that the high bid in today’s auction of Michael Jordan’s residence in Highland Park did not meet the reserve price. Concierge Auctions gave great exposure to the property and opportunity, but the market conditions were just not right to drive a fair value.’ said Estee Portnoy, spokeswoman for Michael Jordan.

 

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‘We will be evaluating options for the property in the new year.’

Prospective buyers had been required to put down a $250,000 deposit just to participate in bidding for the estate, reports the Chicago Tribune.

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Located directly off the pool pavilion, the three-bedroom guest wing offers a gourmet kitchen, en suite bathrooms and built-in furnishings

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Prospective buyers had been required to put down a $250,000 deposit just to participate in bidding for the estate

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The property is the highest-priced home in the Chicago area and the tax bill was $178,900 in 2012

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Home court: Jordan had a regulation size basketball surface installed in the house complete with logo branding

'AIR' JORDAN: 'THE GREATEST'

Michael Jordan's biography on the official NBA website reads: 'By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.'

His honors list includes:

  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991–1992, 1996, 1998)

Jordan was unbeaten in all six of his NBA finals. As well as a 10 time NBA scoring champion, he was named in the NBA All-Defensive First team 9 times. He is considered the best all-round basketball star to have played the game.

As part of their efforts to sell the pricy property, Concierge Auctions had shot an elaborate video to provide prospective buyers - and Jordan fans - with an intimate view of the plush 7.4 acre complex which the star designed, built and lived in for 19 years.

Heavily branded with the superstar's 'jumping man' logo, the nine bedroom, 19 bathroom property comes with its own NBA regulation size basketball court, a wine cellar, PGA putting green, infinity swimming pool, pool pavilion, and tennis court.

‘Located directly off the pool pavilion, the three-bedroom guest wing offers a gourmet kitchen, en suite bathrooms and built-in furnishings,’ states promotional material about the attempted sale.

Jordan was unbeaten in all six of his NBA finals. As well as a 10 time NBA scoring champion, he was named in the NBA All-Defensive First team nine times. He is considered the best all-round basketball star to have played the game.

It is being sold with all the furniture included, meaning a buyer can eat where the legendary Chicago Bulls player staged 'breakfast clubs' with his title winning team mates.

They can also shoot hoops where he refined his legendary game.

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The basketball star helped to design the plush 7.4 acre complex which he lived in for 19 years

Work it out: The record breaker was known for his work ethic, which explains why he had a private gym built in the complex

Work it out: The record breaker was known for his work ethic, which explains why the house has a gym

Fenced on all sides by trees which Jordan had planted especially to screen the plot, the house is only accessible through a pair of wrought iron gates bearing the baller's famous jersey number 23.

The Illinois house comes with a wine cellar and cigar room fitted with an air filtration system which means, despite years of use, there is no scent of smoke on the plush furnishings.

The sale includes art pieces such as a bespoke table, crafted for Jordan to show the layout of the city of Baghdad.

The house even contains bedroom doors which were taken from the entrance to the original Playboy Mansion. 

The video features evocative images of Jordan's title winning stints at the Chicago Bulls. It also shows interviews with his former teammates who talk of gym workouts they used to have at the house.

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The Illinois house comes with a wine cellar and cigar room fitted with an air filtration system which means, despite years of use, there is no scent of smoke on the plush furnishings

Historic: The superstar is said to have conducted team meetings with his title winning teammates at the Illionois mansion

Historic: The superstar is said to have conducted team meetings with his title winning teammates at the house

Icon: Jordan's famous Nike endorsement saw his 'jumping man' logo become part of pop-culture. His is said to earn $80m every year from his business deals

Icon: Jordan's famous Nike endorsement saw his 'jumping man' logo become part of pop-culture. He is said to earn $80m every year from his business deals

It ends with the auctioneer sinking an NBA-range 3-point shot.

Speaking of the legend's reason for selling the house, project manager Nick Leonard said: 'Fame withheld, Michael Jordan has a lot of similarities to our typical seller. He's an extremely savvy very successful business person.

'He has a spectacular property, one of a kind, and he’s not using it.

'So he’s taking control of the market, he's setting a sale date and he's going to auction it to the high bidder.

'For anyone with any interest, it’s now or never.'

Despite that boastful sales pitch the property didn't sell this time, it is expected back on the market in the new year when the asking price may have to be substantially reduced to make a sale.

Water feature: The rear of the house comes with its own infinity pool with a grassed island in the middle

Water feature: The rear of the house comes with its own infinity pool with a grassed island in the middle

Professional green: The golfing surface is PGA standard and, like other features in the house, comes with personal Jordan branding

Professional green: The golfing surface is PGA standard and, like other features in the house, comes with personal Jordan branding


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... and in the end we're all the same, ending up at the 'knacker's yard..... only difference that shows is MEGALOMANIA. also known as: Groessenwahn !!!!! ALOHA...

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No go for Chicago!

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Come on Michael, it would make a great Homeless Shelter.

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$13 mill down from $29 is it worth $13 mill ohh ok it has a basketball court but is it worth $13 mill oh it also has a gym as well ok ok but $13 mill?? you say it has it's own little lake as well all right all right I'll give him $10 mill take it or leave it.

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He should give it away.I expect the taxes would be adjusted, if it were to be used as a convalescent home for the army, or for children, or as an old people's home, or many other charitable uses, that I have not had time to think about yet. What a white elephant. Or should that be bl.............Please print. Someone will smile!

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he can give it to a homeless person, just let them live in it , they will be grateful, sense hes just gonna buy a new one. then he'll have plenty of bidders. I do not feel sad for him, he has a home , now he just wants to sell it and give it away, like he doesn't want it anymore. there is like starving children around the world who need a home and people do this.............................

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he should give it away for free, and then someone will want it. yep~

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Donate it to a orphanage.

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I want to see a photo of the bespoke table with the city of Baghdad on it before I will even considering putting down $250,000.00.

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The property tax would put anyone off. Imagine just seeing that money disappear before you turn on a light. Big mistake in location. Who would want such a place?

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