Kevin O’Leary Says His $12.9M Trading Card Belongs With Fine Art. To Him, It’s ‘No Different’ From Warhol And Pollock

Kevin O’Leary just dropped nearly $13 million on what some might dismiss as just a trading card. But to him, it’s in the same league as fine art—no different from owning an original Warhol or Pollock.

The investor and television personality known as “Mr. Wonderful” teamed up with two partners last month to buy a one-of-a-kind sports card signed by NBA Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for $12.9 million.

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“There’s method to my madness,” O’Leary said in an interview posted to social media recently. “This asset class is actually no different than modern or contemporary art. They have the same growth metrics as if you bought a Warhol back in the ’60s.”

The card—a 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs—features actual jersey patches and autographs from both Jordan and Bryant. It is the only card of its kind.

“That’s the equivalent of buying an original Pollock,” O’Leary said. “I’ll never sell that card.”

O’Leary formed a syndicate with high-end card collector Matt Allen and entrepreneur Paul Warshaw. The trio stayed up through the night of the auction, coordinating bids via Zoom across time zones. Shyne was in Spain, Warshaw in Miami, and O’Leary elsewhere. “We didn’t win that card until 3:30 in the morning,” O’Leary said.

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The card now holds the record for the most expensive sports card ever sold at auction, surpassing the $12.6 million paid for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in 2022. It is also the second-most valuable sports collectible of all time, behind Babe Ruth‘s 1932 “called shot” jersey, which fetched $24.12 million.

Despite receiving a Professional Sports Authenticator grade of 6, the card’s unique status made its condition secondary. “Grades matter as far as pricing goes for standard-issue cards, but this is a 1-of-1, so the grade is less important,” Heritage Auctions Director of Sports Auctions Chris Ivy told ESPN.

According to Ivy, the card was long viewed by modern collectors as a “holy grail.” Upper Deck’s Exquisite line, once mocked for its high price point, ultimately reshaped the industry by introducing patches and autographs in premium releases.