Jim Irsay wasn’t only the owner of the Indianapolis Colts. He was also one of the greatest collectors of all time.
Five months after Irsay’s death, his family has struck a deal with Christie’s to sell the majority of his collection, including 199 guitars and some of the greatest historical and pop-culture pieces of all time.
Advertisement
He paid $6.18 million for Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” heavyweight belt and $3.9 million for Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s “Black Strat.”
The bass drum used by Ringo Starr on the Beatles’ first Ed Sullivan appearance in 1963 and the saddle used by Ron Turcotte on Secretariat in 1973 for his 31-length victory to win the Triple Crown cost him $2 million each.
Irsay bought two books for $2.4 million each — the original manuscripts of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and “Alcoholics Anonymous’ Big Book.”
His collection includes instruments from John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Jim Morrison, Bo Diddley, Janis Joplin and others.
Advertisement
Like many, he loved artifacts of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. He owned two tickets from the Ford Theatre from the night Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. He also owned a John Wilkes Booth “Wanted” poster and JFK’s famous rocking chair.
Two years ago, Irsay told ESPN he was offered $1.15 billion for his collection and turned it down. He also said the collection wouldn’t be sold, and it would be passed down to his grandchildren.
That condition obviously wasn’t mandated in his will.
“This decision was not made lightly, but with deep reflection and love for the legacy he built,” the Irsay family said in a statement.
Advertisement
The first of the Irsay sales will take place in March, according to Christie’s.
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct and one of the country’s leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.
