7 watches from Michael Jordan’s slam-dunk luxury collection: from a Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ and a million-dollar Ulysse Nardin, to a Richard Mille and even a custom-made ‘Chicago Bulls’ Urwerk

Feb 6 , 2024

Billionaire basketball legend Michael Jordan is a fan of exclusive luxury watches. Photo: Getty Images

One of the world’s richest billionaire athletes, Jordan has a love for luxury timepieces, from big brands like Rolex to niche, esoteric ones like A. Lange & Söhn, Urwerk and Roger Dubuis

Urwerk custom-made a watch to honour the NBA legend’s time with the Chicago Bulls, while another Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ once set the record for most expensive watch ever sold

Michael Jordan – or His Airness, as he’s known by his legions of diehard fans – is a towering figure in the world of professional sports. As a Chicago Bulls star player for 13 years, he won countless MVP awards, owns multiple championship rings, and pioneered the art of the lucrative endorsement deal with the Air Jordan basketball sneaker.

Among the richest athletes in the world, Michael Jordan collects watches from both known luxury brands and niche makers. Photo: Getty Images

Today, he’s among the richest athletes in the world – worth a staggering US$3 billion, per Forbes. With that kind of money, Jordan has plenty to invest in luxury watches, and the basketballer’s collection has steadily grown over the years, from uber-popular Rolexes to more niche, esoteric brands known only to dedicated collectors.

Here are a few highlights from his impeccably curated watch collection.

1. A. Lange & Söhne Datograph

Michael Jordan is often seen wearing this Datograph from A. Lange & Söhne. Photo: Handout

Jordan was among the first to embrace A. Lange & Söhne watches after the renowned German brand’s revival in the 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

While this Saxony-based watchmaker may not have the same global recognition as Swiss companies like Rolex due to its limited production numbers each year, it is highly revered in haute horology circles. Collectors and connoisseurs often regard A. Lange & Söhne’s exclusive and elusive timepieces as a “holy grail” for their complex, in-house movements.

Over the years, Jordan has been frequently seen wearing an A. Lange & Söhne Datograph. This particular chronograph, known for the brand’s iconic oversized date display, is valued at around US$100,000, per watch accessory shop Ifl Watches.