Someone can tell that they are obscene expenses. Thinking about the mountain of dollars that someone can invest in sports products is striking. TO Nick Fiorella his pulse does not tremble. The Florida millionaire, insurance company owner, elite collector, struck again with a purchase that became the most expensive in history. Last Sunday he kept a pair of sports shoes used in a game in 1984 for Michael Jordan for a record price of almost $ 1.5 million.
“The most valuable sneakers ever offered at auction – the Nike Air Ships model used in regular games in 1984 – just sold for $ 1,472,000 at our Las Vegas luxury sale,” announced Sotheby’s, a major auction house. , it’s a statement. The footwear, white and red, was worn by Jordan in Game 5 of his first NBA season as a Chicago Bulls player in 1984, and are signed by himself.
This is the first time that a shoe at public auction has exceeded a million dollars. “This record result of the Jordan Nike Air Ships reaffirms the place of Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan franchise at the top of the shoe market,” explained Brahm Wachter of the auction house after the sale closed.
In 2020, a Nike Air Jordan 1 High worn by the legend Her Majesty in 1985 fetched a price at Christie’s auction of $ 615,000.
Nick Fiorella with his sons Jack and Sofes
But who is Nick Fiorella? He is the CEO and owner of Fiorella Insurance Agency, a company based in Suart, Florida. It is not the first time that he has appeared in the center of the scene for an investment of this caliber.
He bought the card of the Slovenian Luka Doncic belonging to the 2018/19 collection of National Treasures Luka Doncic Rookie Auto Logoman 1/1 ′ for $ 4.6 million. She is also the most expensive of all time in basketball and the second most expensive in history.
Fiorella’s investment broke many previously known records, according to Yahoo Sports. A rookie card signed by Giannis Antetokounmpo sold for $ 1.81 million in September 2020, and a rookie card signed by LeBron James sold for $ 1.80 million in July of last year.
A few years ago The New York Times interviewed Fiorella Jr. to find out why he was buying collectibles at high prices. “It is a long-term investment, and like everything it has its risks. Sometimes you can get more or sometimes if a player is injured or nothing happens with him you lose $ 50,000 ”.
Nick Fiorella the collector shows another purchased item on his Instagram: he paid 4.6 million dollars for this Luka Doncic card
Dolphins fan Nick Fiorella won a $ 400,000 card from the legendary Tom Brady at auction, but it wasn’t even his biggest purchase in a week. After keeping that card, he said that he believes that in 5 or 10 years this Brady card will be worth millions. The athlete himself on his Instagram account made a joke and said that “he was cleaning his basement” when that sports card appeared. Last June, an autographed rookie card for Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship sold for $ 3.1 million.
Fiorella bought a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps for $ 450,000 and one of those cards from the collection went on to sell for $ 5.2 million. He even paid $ 50,000 for a set of cards representing Ronald Acuña Jr., the Atlanta Braves outfielder named 2018 rookie of the year. spring and never plays again, I just lost $ 50,000, ″ said Fiorella.
He defines himself as a collector of high-end cards, on his Instagram account, he proudly displays his conquests, for example one from Lewis Hamilton or Kawhi Leonard. Even in the last few posts he has a Stephen Curry card, signed, in his rookie season. Although Nick Fiorella, now added to his collection a jewel that Michael Jordan wore in 1984. A bet that will surely give him great benefits.
