Buyer of Michael Jordan’s Discounted $9.5 Million Chicago Mansion Revealed—as He Shares Plans to Honor NBA Star’s Legacy

The buyer of Michael Jordan‘s discounted $9.5 million Chicago mansion has come forward to identify himself as a longtime fan of the NBA legend—and he’s sharing his plans for the property.

Just weeks after he closed on the expansive Highland Park, IL, home—which had languished on the market for nearly 13 years—Lincoln, NE, native John Cooper has revealed himself as the lucky new owner.

Speaking to the Lincoln Journal Star, Cooper, 42, who has lived in the Chicago area for the past 10 years, revealed that he had admired the property for some time before deciding to put in an offer. He ultimately scored an incredible discount on the nine-bedroom, 15.5-bathroom home, which first came on the market in 2012 for $29 million.

In an incredibly lengthy real estate ordeal, Jordan, 61, was forced to reduce the price multiple times, first to $16 million, then to $14,855,000 in a subtle nod to his historic career.

How did that figure relate to his on-court stardom?

When added, 1, 4, 8, 5, and 5 total 23, Jordan’s longtime jersey number. But even that gimmick failed as the property sat for nine more years at that price.

Then Cooper, a partner at real estate company HAN Capital, came along.

In his interview with the Journal Star, Cooper explained that when he first saw the home come on the market, he thought it offered an incredible opportunity. Despite not growing up in Chicago, he says he was always drawn to the city’s professional sports teams, including Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

“I remember seeing the home for sale and thinking how cool it would be for the person that buys the home,” he said. “My favorite player to watch was always Jordan. He made shots that seemed impossible, and he got it done on defense, too.”

Such was his admiration for the home that Cooper wasted no time in moving in—even hosting his birthday party in the property recently, which included (of course) a game of basketball with friends on the property’s indoor court, as well as some golf on its putting green.

Much of the mansion’s unique amenities will be retained, although restored, Cooper said. He has already had meetings with contractors to go over plans for the home.

His focus, however, is on ensuring that Jordan’s legacy remains.

“I’ll announce some exciting plans for the property in January. I do not have any major renovation plans. I will honor the property’s legacy. This place is great just the way it is.”

The father of three added that he does not foresee the mansion becoming a primary residence for himself and his family, but expects he will use it regularly.

He will certainly have plenty of amenities to enjoy however regularly he frequents his new real estate investment. As well as the full-size basketball court (with the sporting superstar’s Air Jordan logo at its center) and putting green, the mansion includes an infinity pool, a tennis court, and a cigar room.

The front gates of the 7-acre estate bear Jordan’s longtime jersey number, 23, leaving no doubt as to the identity of the home’s previous owner.

Over the years, the dwelling has attracted a huge amount of public attention, largely because of Jordan’s refusal to lower the price for close to a decade. However, more recently, it was thrown into the center of a TikTok controversy when an “urban explorer” claimed to have broken into the home and found it in a state of disrepair and ruin.

The urban explorer, who goes by “Decaying Midwest” on TikTok, claimed to have found interiors that are far less appealing than the grandeur and luxury that one might expect from a high-profile property.

The kitchen in the video—which was never verified as having been taken inside Jordan’s home—showed a similar state of disrepair and what appear to be incomplete renovations.

The footage showed cupboard doors left on the floor, water bottles abandoned on the countertops, and pieces of wood scattered around the room.

The video also revealed some attractive features, including a stunning sauna, grand living spaces, elegant chandeliers, and a luxe home theater.

It sparked a surge of interest on TikTok, despite representatives for Jordan stating the video was not taken inside his home.

Still, it may well be that the viral response to the video helped to reignite public awareness of the home’s availability—and the property is now pending sale just one month later.

While many questioned why Jordan refused to reduce the price to attract a buyer, some suggested a very clear reason: He doesn’t need to.

Jordan, who is part-owner of the Charlotte Hornets, has an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion, according to Forbes. Much of that fortune came from Jordan selling his majority stake in the Hornets for $3 billion in summer 2023.