Michael Jordan’s abandoned Chicago mansion might become a museum

The owner who bought sporting icon Michael Jordan’s ill-fated mansion has revealed plans to turn it into a “tourist destination”. 

It’s the latest twist in a decade-long saga over the fate of the unloved Chicago property the retired US basketball great once called home.

The story began in 2012 when the NBA champ listed his nine-bedroom, 19-bathroom pad in Highland Park for $US29 million ($43.7 million). 

It took 12 years and countless price cuts before the abandoned home finally sold in September 2024 for $US14,855,000 ($22,400,329).

Chicago-based businessman John Cooper scooped up the property.

Yet, despite the sale, the swirl of controversies did not end with his purchase. 

In January 2025, Cooper offered the mansion back up for sale as a timeshare, meaning co-owners would be able to live in the home for a set period each year. 

Bids for one-week shares were going to start at $US1 million ($1.5 million). 

When the council blocked Cooper’s timeshare scheme, he listed the house on Airbnb for around $US15,000 ($22,000) a night.

Now the investor has announced plans to turn the mansion into a museum. 

“The theme of the tour is going to be ‘greatness’, and our goal is to kind of teach people what it means to be great at life,” ABC7 Chicago quoted Cooper telling the Highland Park City Council this week. 

While the tourism hub would be a for-profit enterprise, Cooper reportedly told the council he plans to partner with local schools and youth groups and offer fee-free admission on certain days. 

He hopes to join forces with an adjoining nature reserve and believes the museum could attract 300 visitors per day.

His scheme has been met with stormy opposition from some neighbours. 

One objector voiced fears the area would be turned into a “zoo”, while another expressed skepticism about a nature reserve being used for private profit, according to the New York Post. 

The council is yet to make a formal decision about Cooper’s proposal.

Jordan, who wore the now iconic number 23, played 15 years in the NBA.

The point guard won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

He famously partnered with Nike to create the Air Jordan line of sneakers.

Jordan retired from the sport in 2003. He has an estimated net worth of 3.8 million ($5.7 billion), according to Forbes.