His Airness Scores At Last. Did Michael Jordan Finally Sell His Chicago-area Home?

Some houses bear the owner’s imprint so clearly that it's often hard to imagine anyone else living there. That happened with Michael Jordan’s Highland Park, IL, house. Maybe it was the giant 23 on the front gates, or maybe it was the basketball court in Chicago Bulls colors. It was hard to imagine anyone else living there.

Now, after 12 years on the market, the house is finally marked as contingent on sales sites. "Contingent" doesn’t mean sold, but it is a hopeful sign for Jordan and luxury real estate in the Chicago area. This home has had quite a long history in the public eye. The seven-acre estate was custom-built for Michael Jordan and his now ex-wife Juanita Vanoy in 1995. Other details include a circular infinity pool, putting green, tennis court, and cigar room. Sportico reported that the home was originally titled under Vanoy’s name before the couple divorced in 2006. After that, Jordan took full ownership. 

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The property was first listed at $29 million in 2012. After a year on the market, Jordan got impatient and chose to list it through luxury real estate auction house Concierge Auctions. The property had a minimum reserve of $13 million but failed to meet that price. In 2013, the list price was dropped to $21 million. The listing was removed and then put back on for $16 million. 

Jordan's next move was to bring in a celebrity to sell a celebrity home. Mauricio Umansky of The Agency has sold some of the most lavish celebrity properties in Los Angeles. He has also appeared on "The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills" alongside his wife, Kyle Richards. Umansky and Kofi Nartey, a sports-focused real estate agent, took over selling the home in 2015 and reset the price to $14,885,000, the numbers equaling 23. Umansky was confident when he was interviewed in 2015 by TMZ, saying that he had the "secret sauce" to get the house sold. 

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While Umansky may not have accomplished his goal, the price stuck even when the home was delisted and then relisted. The current agent, Katherine Malkin of Compass, confirmed to The Athletic that the house has found a buyer. In 2021, she told Sportico that she had seen consistent interest in the home and that many people wanted to tour it. 

Of course, the big question is what the final price will be. If it comes close to the list price, it could set a record for the most expensive house ever sold in Highland Park. Sportico noted that Jordan has paid over $1.8 million in property taxes alone while the property has been on the market. He likely also spent significantly on upkeep, maintenance, and property management. 

Like many other athletes, Jordan has migrated to Florida, building a large estate in the elite Bears Club in Jupiter, FL, in 2013. The 11-bedroom home sits on three acres. Jordan is famously a big golfer. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus designed the Bears Club as a player’s paradise. Jordan liked the community so much he picked up a second home for $16.5 million earlier this year. 

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