When it comes to Michael Jordan, luxury exudes his class. From expensive cars, yachts, watches, and jets, he literally has it all. MJ even shelled out $131.5 million for two magnificent aircraft—a Gulfstream G550 and his newest addition, the Gulfstream G650ER. Both are equally good and rapid, but there is another billionaire athlete who might pip the NBA icon in terms of the aviation machinery; mind you, it’s not LeBron James.
The athlete here is soccer superstar and legend Cristiano Ronaldo. As per the resident magazine, CR7 reached the $1 billion mark by 2024. Currently, he plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Just like Jordan, even Ronaldo had two jets, and his recent purchase is a similar model as that of the Bulls icon. So, let’s dive deep and understand the true difference between the two.
CR7 and how he jets ahead of Michael Jordan
Ronaldo’s new aircraft, a Gulfstream G650, replaces his previous aircraft, which was a Gulfstream G200. As stated previously, His Airness also has two jets, the first one being a Gulfstream G550 and his newest addition, the Gulfstream G650ER. Yes, both sporting icons have a similar Gulfstream aircraft, and yet both are different.
Despite being a similar G650 model, Cristiano Ronaldo’s jet has a reported value of $75 million. Plus, as per SuperCar Blondie,” the new jet is a bigger and faster version of the earlier Gulfstream model.” Just like the Portugal forward, even his jet is packed with speed. It has a range of up to 7,500 nautical miles and speeds of over 600mph. So, what about Michael Jordan and his Gulfstream G650ER?
Credits : AVIATE ALABAMA and Feb 15, 1996; Auburn Hills MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan (23) prior to the game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace at Auburn Hills. The Bulls beat the Pistons 112-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
It was back in October when the world saw MJ with his newest jet as he arrived at the YellaWood 500 NASCAR event in Talladega. The co-owner of the 23XI Racing team at the event, his entry with the jet caught people by surprise. As per reports, it is worth $70 million. According to JetSpy, this G650ER was freshly minted in 2024, with the serial number 6579. In terms of speed, it has two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, packing nearly 17,000 pounds of thrust each.
Which means the speed of the jet cruises at a brisk 561 mph. Even though it might be a tad slower than CR7’s machine, both are equally good when it comes to standing out in the crowd.
It’s all about the look, which commands the attention
On the outside, his CR7 logos adorn the fuselage at the front. If people have difficulty in understanding whose jet is, the iconic ‘Siuuu’ goal celebration pose as a silhouette is also present on the side. The color scheme is a very menacing all-black paint scheme. The jet also has hints of silver on the leading edges of the wings and the front of the engine intakes. How can MJ top this? Well, the NBA icon has a personal story behind the customization.
Known for the love of elephant print on previous jets and yachts, even the 2024 Gulfstream G650ER has the same print. “Michael Jordan’s new $70 million Gulfstream G650ER is incredible. The tail number is N236MJ and the custom paint job probably cost over $500,000.” Joe Pompliano shared the update on X regarding the billionaire’s latest purchase. And if somebody has any difficulty recognizing the latest purchase, one can spot the Jordan brand logo clearly.
The brand identity is in white on the maroon-colored tail of the aircraft. Plus, the tail number is also an easy giveaway. N236MJ #23, 6 titles, MJ. But this is not the first time he has made such a huge purchase. The 6x NBA Champion previously used the Gulfstream G550 for his travels, which cost him $61.5 million.
The post Expensive Than Michael Jordan’s $70 million Jet, Cristiano Ronaldo’s “CR7” Could Put “N236MJ” to Shame appeared first on EssentiallySports.