Michael Jordan’s 1997 lost Ferrari 550 Maranello has resurfaced after more than 20 years out of public view, ending one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the basketball legend’s car collection.
Jordan took delivery of the Ferrari on May 29, 1997, just over two weeks before leading the Chicago Bulls to their fifth NBA championship. Finished in the rare Rosso Barchetta metallic burgundy, the grand tourer also featured a tan interior, chrome Speedline wheels, and factory-modified seat tracks designed to accommodate the 6-foot-6 basketball star.
Powered by a front-mounted V12 engine, the Ferrari 550 Maranello was one of the Italian automaker’s flagship grand touring models of the late 1990s. Jordan owned the car until December 2002, when he sold it through a dealership.
After the sale, the Ferrari disappeared from public view, leaving collectors and enthusiasts wondering what had happened to it.
The search for the missing car was led by John Temerian, co-founder of the dealership Curated and host of the We Are Curated YouTube channel. Temerian spent nearly a decade tracing the Ferrari’s history.
The breakthrough came after he discovered an old online forum post containing the car’s serial number. Using that information, he confirmed the Ferrari was still listed under Jordan’s name in Ferrari’s records. He then hired private investigators to help locate the vehicle.
Michael Jordan’s long-lost 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello has been found after more than 20 years out of public view. pic.twitter.com/aHnjdi9wNU
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) July 2, 2026
The search eventually led to California, where Temerian’s team contacted dozens of mechanics. One recognized the Ferrari’s distinctive Rosso Barchetta paint and helped connect the team with its private owner. Temerian later purchased the car for what he described as a record-setting price for the model, bringing the years-long search to an end.
The Ferrari, identified as chassis 108712, returned to Chicago 29 years after Jordan first bought it. During an inspection, the new owners found several original documents stored in the trunk, including the factory warranty booklet signed by Jordan. The autograph adds another documented link between the vehicle and its original owner.
The Ferrari also carries a place in sneaker history. Its Rosso Barchetta paint, yellow Scuderia Ferrari fender shields and sleek styling have long been associated with the design inspiration behind the Air Jordan 14, a shoe created during the final championship run of Jordan’s career with the Bulls.
The rediscovery comes as Jordan remains active in the automotive world. He is the co-owner of the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, extending his long-standing passion for high-performance vehicles into professional motorsports.
For basketball fans and collectors alike, the Ferrari represents more than a rare sports car. It is a surviving piece of Jordan’s championship era and a reminder of how one vehicle can connect sports, automotive design and popular culture decades after it first left the showroom.
