Honestly, it felt like it would never happen. For over a decade, the most famous gates in Illinois sat locked, the number 23 welded into the iron as a permanent reminder of the man who once lived there. Michael Jordan’s Chicago house wasn’t just a home; it was a 56,000-square-foot ghost of the 1990s Bulls dynasty.
Then, in December 2024, the "Sold" sign finally went up.
It took 12 years. It took a massive 67% price cut from the original $29 million asking price. But as of 2026, the legendary estate at 2700 Point Lane in Highland Park has officially entered its "weird" phase.
If you’ve been following the saga, you know it’s no longer just a vacant mansion collecting dust and a $140,000 annual property tax bill. The new owner, a businessman named John Cooper, has been trying everything to make the $9.5 million investment pay off. We’re talking timeshares, ultra-luxe Airbnb listings, and most recently, a controversial plan for an "immersive museum."
The 12-Year Stall: Why Nobody Wanted the GOAT’s House
You’d think the house of the greatest basketball player ever would be a trophy for some billionaire. It wasn't. For years, the property was the ultimate cautionary tale in celebrity real estate.
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The problem? It was too Michael Jordan.
Every inch of the place was customized to his specific life in 1995. The front gate has the 23. The gym floor has his kids' names. The "gentleman’s retreat" features the original doors from the Chicago Playboy Mansion. While that sounds cool on a tour, it’s a nightmare for a buyer who wants a home, not a shrine.
Location was the other killer. Highland Park is beautiful, sure. But the biggest, most expensive homes in that area are usually on the lake. Jordan’s place is inland. It was built there specifically because it was a short drive to the Bulls’ old practice facility, the Berto Center. Once the Bulls moved their training to the city, the location lost its primary utility.
Inside the Walls: More Than Just a Basketball Court
Everyone talks about the regulation-sized basketball court, but the scale of the rest of the house is actually kind of hard to wrap your head around.
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- 19 bathrooms: Think about that. You could use a different bathroom every day for nearly three weeks without repeating.
- The Cigar Room: This isn't just a corner with a humidor. It’s a dedicated lounge with custom-built poker tables and a ventilation system designed to handle heavy smoke.
- The "Infinity" Pool: It’s circular and has a literal grass island in the middle.
- 14-car garage: Because when you’re MJ, you don't just have a driveway; you have a showroom.
The house was essentially a private resort. In 2009, Jordan spent millions on a massive renovation, but even that couldn't hide the "90s contemporary" DNA of the architecture. The glass blocks and circular walls that were peak luxury in the era of Space Jam started to look a bit dated as the years rolled by.
The 2026 Reality: Airbnb and Museum Drama
When John Cooper bought the place for $9.5 million in late 2024, he didn't move in.
Instead, he rebranded it as Champions Point. He’s been experimenting with how to monetize the MJ brand without MJ actually being there. One of the more controversial moves? He reportedly covered up the Jumpman logo on the center of the basketball court during some of the initial rebranding efforts, which felt like sacrilege to fans.
By the summer of 2025, the house hit Airbnb Luxe. The price tag? A cool $15,000 a night with a seven-day minimum stay. Basically, if you have $105,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can sleep in the primary suite where the GOAT once rested.
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But the latest drama involves a pivot to a museum model. Cooper recently proposed turning the estate into an "immersive, multisensory experience" focused on personal transformation. Neighbors in Highland Park are, predictably, not thrilled. They moved to a quiet, gated community, not a place where tour buses pull up to see where Scottie Pippen used to hang out.
What You Should Know If You’re Visiting (or Dreaming)
If you’re a fan trying to catch a glimpse, keep in mind that the property is still very much a private, gated estate. You can’t just walk up to the door. However, the saga of Michael Jordan’s Chicago house proves that even the most "un-sellable" property has a second act.
The real lesson here? Personalization is a double-edged sword. Jordan built a monument to his own success, and in doing so, he made it nearly impossible for anyone else to see themselves living there.
Actionable Takeaways for Real Estate Fans:
- Check the Airbnb Luxe listings if you’re curious about current interior photos; they are much more detailed than the old Zillow ones.
- Monitor Highland Park zoning meetings if you're interested in whether the museum plan actually gets the green light—it's the biggest legal hurdle right now.
- Remember the "23" Rule: If you ever sell a house, maybe don't weld your name into the front gate. It might cost you $20 million in the long run.
The era of Michael Jordan living in Highland Park is long gone, but the house remains a fascinating, slightly weird monument to a time when he owned the city—and the world.