Real estate investor John Cooper is the proud new owner of Michael Jordan’s former suburban Chicago mansion that sold for $9.5 million this month.
Cooper, a partner at self-storage and RV Park landlord HAN Capital, based in Lincolnwood, was revealed as the buyer by the Lincoln Journal Star on Friday, the Nebraska native’s hometown newspaper.
Cooper’s deal brought an end to Jordan’s especially lengthy effort to sell the sprawling 56,000-square-foot property in Highland Park. It was on the market for nearly 12 years, and went through massive price reductions after initially being listed for almost $30 million. It was most recently listed for a little under $15 million before Cooper’s purchase.
Cooper, 42, now resides in Chicago and recently celebrated his purchase with a birthday party at the estate, enjoying basketball and golf with friends — the home includes an indoor basketball court as well as a putting green.
“I’ll announce some exciting plans for the property in January,” Cooper told the publication, noting that a gate to the home adorned with a “23” in honor of Jordan’s famous worn jersey number won’t be changed. “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 property won’t serve as Cooper’s full-time residence, he said. HAN Capital was founded by brothers Alex and Nik Turik before Cooper became its third partner. The firm buys, develops and operates self-storage, RV parks, campgrounds and manufactured housing around the nation, and in 2022 sold Chicago and Wilmette properties for a combined $32 million, as well as a northwest Indiana property for $17 million.
The Highland Park mansion was built in 1995 during Jordan’s Chicago Bulls championship years, and features nine bedrooms, 15 full bathrooms and four half-baths, tennis court, cigar lounge, and the iconic “23” gate, in addition to the basketball and golf amenities.
Jordan initially purchased the estate for his family in the early 1990s but retained ownership after his divorce in 2006. Despite its luxurious features and ties to the NBA legend, the property’s price proved a challenge in the Chicago-area ultra-luxury real estate market.
Jordan’s sale reflects a broader trend of high-end homeowners taking losses in the Chicago area, including a Lincoln Park estate that sold for $15.25 million after being listed at $50 million. Despite the deep discount from its initial listing price, the sale of Jordan’s property is the fourth-highest home sale in the Chicago area this year and the most expensive non-lakefront deal in Highland Park history.
Meanwhile, Jordan continues to reside primarily in Florida with his wife, Yvette Prieto, and spends summers traveling abroad.
— Sam Lounsberry