The massive number 23 welded into the front gate says it all. You’ve seen the photos. Maybe you’ve even been one of the thousands of people who pulled over on Point Lane just to snap a selfie in front of those black bars. For a long time, that gate was as close as anyone could get to the most famous ghost house in Illinois.
But something shifted recently. After sitting on the market for a staggering 12 years—a literal eternity in real estate—the michael jordan house highland park finally sold in December 2024. It wasn’t the $29 million payday MJ originally wanted. Far from it. A businessman named John Cooper snagged the 56,000-square-foot compound for a cool $9.5 million. Honestly, for a place that cost Jordan an estimated $50 million to build and maintain over the decades, that's basically a clearance rack price.
Why Nobody Wanted 2700 Point Lane for a Decade
Real estate is usually about "location, location, location," but for the Jordan estate, it was more about "customization, customization, customization." People always ask why the GOAT couldn't move a property. It’s Michael Jordan! You’d think some billionaire fan would jump at the chance to sleep where he slept.
The problem is that the house is a monument to one specific person. If you have $15 million to spend on a house, you probably want it to feel like your house, not a museum dedicated to a 6'6" shooting guard.
The Customization Curse
Everything in the home was built to MJ’s exact specs. We're talking:
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- A regulation-sized indoor basketball court with "Jordan" emblazoned on the floor.
- Extra-high shower heads (because, you know, he’s tall).
- A cigar room with air filtration systems that could probably clear a forest fire.
- The original doors from the Playboy Mansion in Chicago leading into the "gentleman’s retreat."
It’s all very 1990s. While Jordan kept it in pristine condition, the aesthetic—lots of glass block, circular walls, and contemporary stucco—fell out of fashion while it sat vacant. Plus, the location is a bit weird. It’s in Highland Park, sure, but it’s not on the lake. It’s tucked away near railroad tracks and a nature preserve. Most people with ten million bucks want to be on the water.
The New Life of Champions Point
John Cooper didn't buy this place to move his family in and start cooking breakfast in the renovated kitchen. He has much weirder, more ambitious plans. He rebranded the estate as "Champions Point."
Initially, Cooper tried to turn the property into a luxury timeshare. Imagine paying a million dollars to "own" a week at Jordan’s house. That didn't fly with the Highland Park City Council. They weren't exactly thrilled about a revolving door of "investors" partying in a quiet residential neighborhood.
Then came the Airbnb Luxe era. For a brief window in 2025, you could actually book the place. The nightly rate? A casual $13,120. If you wanted to stay for a month, you were looking at nearly $90,000. It turns out there aren't many people looking to spend a hundred grand to stay in a Chicago suburb, even if they can practice free throws on the same court where MJ perfected his "Last Dance" form.
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Is It Becoming a Museum?
As of early 2026, the latest pivot is the most fascinating one. Cooper is currently pushing for a zoning amendment to turn the michael jordan house highland park into a full-blown museum.
It’s a controversial move. The local neighbors are, predictably, furious. They moved to Highland Park for the quiet, leafy streets, not for shuttle buses and 100,000 tourists a year trying to find "untapped potential" in a "living classroom."
The pitch deck for the museum is... intense. It talks about "narrative art" and "rhythmic soundscapes." Basically, it’s a high-tech shrine to greatness. In December 2025, the City Council voted 4-3 to let the proposal move forward for further study. It’s not a "yes" yet, but it’s the closest the property has ever come to being a public landmark.
A Few Details You Might Have Missed:
- The Jumpman is Gone: In a move that broke many fans' hearts, the iconic Jumpman logo at the center of the basketball court was reportedly covered or removed during the 2025 renovations. Cooper wanted to brand it as "Champions Point" rather than just "The MJ House."
- The 23 Gate is Moving: To stop people from blocking traffic on Point Lane, the plan is to move the famous "23" gate deeper into the property behind a new, more generic perimeter fence.
- The Price Math: For years, Jordan listed the home at $14,855,000. If you add up those digits (1+4+8+5+5), you get 23. He was that committed to the branding.
What This Means for the Neighborhood
Highland Park is a wealthy, settled community. It isn't used to this kind of drama. If the museum happens, it changes the DNA of that pocket of the North Shore. But honestly? The house has been a tourist attraction since 1995 anyway. People have been hovering around that gate for thirty years.
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If you're planning to drive by, keep in mind that it's still a private residence for now, even if nobody lives there. Security is tight.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Real Estate Nerds:
- Don't expect a walk-in tour yet. The museum status is still in the "seeking approval" phase. If you show up today, you’ll just see a very expensive fence and maybe a security guard.
- Watch the zoning board meetings. If you live in the area or just love the drama, the Highland Park City Council meetings are where the real "Last Dance" is happening now.
- Check Airbnb Luxe occasionally. While the owner is focused on the museum, the rental listing has popped up and disappeared multiple times. If you have $13k burning a hole in your pocket, you might still catch a window to book it.
- Value is subjective. This house proves that even the most famous person on earth can't force a market value that doesn't exist. A house is only worth what someone is willing to pay—and for MJ, that was 30 cents on the dollar.
The saga of the michael jordan house highland park isn't over. It’s just moving from the "For Sale" section to the "Public Hearing" section. Whether it becomes a temple of "greatness" or stays a high-priced white elephant is still up in the air.