By Jenna Lemoncelli – Published Dec. 27, 2024, 9:25 p.m. ET – New York Post

One man from Nebraska kept the party going after purchasing Michael Jordan’s Chicago-area mansion earlier this month.

John Cooper, of Lincoln, purchased Jordan’s 56,000-square-foot mansion in Highland Park for $9.5 million, which ended an 11-year stint of being on and off the market — after the NBA legend cut the price from $29 million in 2012, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

Jordan built the mega-mansion and lived in it during his playing days with the Bulls, with whom he won six NBA championships during the 1990s.

The seven-acre estate features nine bedrooms and 19 baths (15 full), a putting green, tennis court, cigar lounge and a regulation-sized basketball court, according to Zillow.

The mansion became a tourist attraction, including its signature “23” gate, a tribute to Jordan’s NBA jersey number.

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Cooper — who is a partner at real estate company HAN Capital, where he has worked for 12 years — celebrated his 42nd birthday with his friends at the property within his first two weeks as owner of the home.

He told the Lincoln Journal Star that his party included a game of basketball and golf with a group of close friends.

Cooper, who is married with three kids, relocated to Chicago more than 10 years ago.

“I remember seeing the home for sale and thinking how cool it would be for the person that buys the home,” he said, adding that he was a big fan of Jordan’s game.

“My favorite player to watch was always Jordan. He made shots that seemed impossible, and he got it done on defense too,” Cooper said.

Cooper explained that he will announce “some exciting plans” for the property in January.

However, Jordan’s “23” gate will remain untouched.

“I’ll announce some exciting plans for the property in January,” Cooper said.

“I do not have any major renovation plans. I will honor the property’s legacy. This place is great just the way it is.”

Cooper added that the home won’t be his full-time residence.

Jordan’s real estate portfolio includes multiple properties in his native North Carolina and another in Florida.

Jordan typically spends his summers overseas, including Europe, with his wife, Yvette Prieto.

The couple, who was seen yachting through Italy this past summer, has been married since 2013.

Lincoln native purchases Michael Jordan’s iconic Chicago mansion for $9.5 million

Nate Head – Dec 26, 2024 – Lincoln Journal Star

John Cooper, a Lincoln native, poses for a photo at the iconic mansion he purchased from Michael Jordan in Highland Park, Ill. Brian Lehmann, Courtesy photo

John Cooper will always remember his 42nd birthday as the year he purchased an iconic home from a sports legend.

The Lincoln native is enjoying the early days as owner of the home built by Michael Jordan in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Cooper purchased the 56,000-square-foot property for $9.5 million earlier this month, ending an 11-year stint of the home being on and off the market.  

Jordan originally listed the home in 2012 for $29 million. Since then, the basketball superstar has reduced the price at least five times, according to Zillow.

Cooper has lived in the Chicago area for over 10 years. After graduating from Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005, he moved to Omaha and then Washington, D.C. before settling in the Windy City.

Cooper quickly gravitated toward Chicago’s pro sports teams after growing up in a state without a pro franchise in NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL.

John Cooper (center) talks with friends at the home he recently purchased from Michael Jordan at 2700 Point Drive in Highland Park, Illinois. Brian Lehmann, Courtesy Photo

Cooper recalls seeing news of Jordan listing the house in 2012, roughly 10 years after his famous Hall of Fame career ended.

Now, he has the keys.

“I remember seeing the home for sale and thinking how cool it would be for the person that buys the home,” Cooper said. 

Cooper says the possibility of purchasing the home emerged as a possibility within the past six months. The home features nine bedrooms and 19 baths (15 full), according to Zillow. Amenities include a putting green, tennis court, cigar lounge and, of course, a regulation-sized basketball court.

One of the mansion’s signature traits is the gate, adorned with a giant “23,” a tribute to Jordan’s jersey number. It’s a popular spot for fans and tourists to take photos.

Cooper is a partner at real estate company HAN Capital, where he’s served as head of operations for over 12 years. HAN Capital owns properties in niche-related markets, including self-storage company Heartland Storage, according to its website. 

Cooper graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 2000 and grew up in a home on the corner of 40th and Calvert Streets. An avid sports fan, Cooper couldn’t play competitively himself due to an asthma condition. He played trumpet and chess instead.

The first two weeks as the home’s owner have been a whirlwind — the good kind. Cooper has hosted several guests, including for his birthday party, which included games of basketball and golf with a group of close friends.

People mingle at the home Lincoln native John Cooper purchased from basketball legend Michael Jordan earlier this month in Highland Park, Ill. Brian Lehmann, Courtesy Photo

He’s also had multiple meetings with contractors to get started on small repairs and upgrades to audio and video systems, among other tune-ups. 

Cooper, who is married with three kids, doesn’t anticipate making the home his full-time residence, but he says he will be there often.

He says he’s putting the final touches on plans for the home that he’ll share in the new year. 

Fear not, Jordan fans. Cooper isn’t planning on disrupting the space’s history. That includes the picturesque gate.

“I’ll announce some exciting plans for the property in January,” Cooper said. “I do not have any major renovation plans. I will honor the property’s legacy. This place is great just the way it is.”

After listing the home for sale for $29 million in 2012, Jordan, 61, lowered the price to $16 million one year later. 

The house has several nods to the Jordan Brand and, more specifically, the trademark Air Jordan logo which depicts Jordan leaping through the air with a basketball in his outstretched hand, presumably for a dunk.

The logos can be found in places obvious and unique, from the center of the indoor basketball court to the home’s digital thermostat.

Cooper appreciates the home’s reminders of its previous owner.

“My favorite player to watch was always Jordan,” Cooper said. “He made shots that seemed impossible, and he got it done on defense too.”