$4.25 Million for One Card: The Michael Jordan Autograph That Just Shattered Every Record

Someone just dropped $4.25 million on a single Michael Jordan card. Not a rookie card. Not a championship photo. A 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey card with MJ's actual signature on it and a jersey swatch from the 1992 NBA All-Star Game embedded right into the cardboard. This is now the most ever paid for a solo Jordan card, and it's not even close.

The Card That Changed Everything

The sale went down privately through Goldin Auctions, and the numbers are absolutely wild. The card graded a 6 overall from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), but here's the thing that matters: the autograph graded a 9. That signature is pristine. When you're talking about a Michael Jordan on-card auto from the late 90s with a piece of his actual All-Star Game jersey embedded in it, a 9 on the autograph is the kind of thing collectors lose sleep over.

Ken Goldin, the founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, put it simply to ESPN: "Beyond our success in generating auction records, we remain dedicated to facilitating transactions between private buyers and sellers to enhance the world's most prestigious collections and portfolios." Translation: Jordan cards are still king, and this one just proved it.

How Bad Did the Old Record Get Obliterated?

The previous record for a solo Jordan card was $2.928 million. That was a 1-of-1 numbered, on-card autographed Jordan Logoman from the 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection, sold in mid-2024. So in less than two years, someone paid nearly $1.4 million more for the 1997-98 Game Jersey card.

To put it another way: another 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Jordan card sold privately through Goldin Auctions for $2.7 million back in late 2021. That was the benchmark for years. Now it's not even top two.

This is what happens when you combine perfect autograph grading, a piece of NBA All-Star Game history, and one of the greatest athletes who ever lived. The Jordan card market isn't just alive. It's thriving.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.