Michael Jordan continues to set records decades after retiring. His autographed 1986-87 Fleer rookie card, graded PSA 9 with a 10 signature, sold for $2.5 million — the most ever paid for a Jordan rookie card.

The card sold Thursday at Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter auction house, which the artist opened in 2022.

The signed Jordan rookie card carries a unique backstory. While at his private Florida golf course in 2024, Jordan secretly signed nine of these 1986-87 Fleer cards.

“With a blue Sharpie chosen specifically for the occasion, Jordan meticulously added his signature to cards that are nothing short of legendary: the 1986-87 Fleer #57 rookie card, a cornerstone of sports memorabilia,” Joopiter writes in the lot description. “Eight of these cards rank among the finest examples ever graded, their authenticity and signatures verified by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This extraordinary event, the culmination of nearly five years of coordination between a devoted collector, Michael Jordan and PSA, marks a monumental moment in the world of collectibles.”

The auction house noted that only six 1986-87 Fleer examples have received higher grades from PSA/DNA, all coming from the same 2024 signing session.

This marked the first 1986-87 Fleer Jordan card sold publicly that was graded PSA 9 with a PSA 10 autograph. According to ESPN’s Dan Hajducky, it was also the first sports card Joopiter has auctioned.

“We are excited to debut in the world of sports collectibles, largely in response to enthusiasm from our global community of collectors,” Caitlin Donovan, global head of sales at Joopiter, told ESPN. “With a focus on rare and iconic sports memorabilia, infused with the rich history that make these pieces truly special, we look forward to bringing this community unique and significant pieces of sports history.”

Only two Jordan cards have sold for more: his 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys Autograph numbered to 23 and graded BGS 8 brought $2.7 million, while Jordan’s 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Game-Used Logoman Patch sold for $2.928 million.

By Matt Higgins
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins
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