When discussing the greatest athlete of all time, few names pop up as often as Michael Jordan. MJ played in the NBA for 15 seasons and won the NBA championship six times with the Chicago Bulls. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice, voted as the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times in his career, and the MVP trophy is now named in his honor. In addition, he now has countless product endorsements and brand deals, including the famous Nike Air Jordan sneaker brand, and is one of the richest athletes in the world.
One of the most common purchases that a person makes when becoming a billionaire is acquiring a private jet. Private jets are perhaps the most definitive display of wealth and opulence other than a yacht, and they're also fairly practical, since private jet owners can fly whenever and wherever they want, without needing to worry about airport security or airline schedules. In 2024, Michael Jordan purchased a Gulfstream G650ER, the pinnacle of private aviation, and this is what the G650ER brings for MJ.
Overview Of The Gulfstream G650ER
Qatar Executive G650ERCredit: Shutterstock
The Gulfstream G650ER is an extended-range version of the Gulfstream G650. The G650 was developed to be Gulfstream's flagship aircraft, succeeding the G550. Previous Gulfstream aircraft used the same cross-section for decades, but the G650 was a fully clean-sheet aircraft, meaning that it featured a larger, more spacious cross-section. In addition, the G650 came with a new wing, redesigned interior, new Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, and improved technology.
The G650ER features a bump in Maximum Takeoff Weight and increased fuel capacity to extend the aircraft's range to 7,500 NM (13,900 km). The G650ER soon became the production standard, while a retrofit was offered for already-delivered G650s. This makes it one of the most capable business jets ever built, and although it's no longer in production, its range remains impressive. The aircraft has a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers and features a plethora of extravagant interior options, such as a shower and a full-size bedroom.
The G650ER has since been succeeded by the G700 and the G800. While the two aircraft are even more capable and technologically advanced, they're more of a refresh of the G650ER than a completely new aircraft. The G650ER was the most impressive Gulfstream ever made at the time, and it became the most popular large aircraft the company has ever made. The aircraft became extremely popular with celebrities and ultra-wealthy individuals, further solidifying the G650ER's status as a pop culture icon.
Looking At Michael Jordan's Gulfstream
Gulfstream G650ER TaxiingCredit: Shutterstock
N236MJ, serial number 6579, is Michael Jordan's Gulfstream G650ER. It's one of the last G650ERs ever made, and it was delivered to Michael Jordan in 2024. Unlike most FAA N-numbers, the registration on MJ's aircraft is special. The 23 represents his NBA jersey number, while the six represents the number of championships he won during his career. MJ, meanwhile, are his initials. This isn't the only area of the plane that has been customized, either.
Michael Jordan commissioned N236MJ to feature a unique "elephant-print" paint scheme. The prints themselves are colored grey and painted on a solid dark grey, a pattern that's also carried onto the wings. The rear of the fuselage is colored red with a solid black border separating the two color schemes, and the winglets are colored a solid red on the outside, while the part of the winglet facing the fuselage is painted black. The red extends up to the rear section of the tail and features the iconic "Jumpman" logo as seen on the Nike Air Jordan sneakers.
The cockpit windows feature a black outline, while 12 out of the 16 oval cabin windows feature a red outline. The forward and rear sets of windows do not have any outlines. The engines are painted solid black, with the registration painted in white. In total, it's estimated that Gulfstream billed Michael Jordan roughly half a million dollars for the paint job alone, and this isn't the only special part of the aircraft either. Indeed, the G650ER is all about the interior.
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Inside The Gulfstream G650ER
Wikimedia Commons<\/a>""> Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Details are naturally scarce as to what MJ's particular Gulfstream looks like on the inside, but one of the defining traits of a Gulfstream is the customization. Every detail can be personalized, ensuring that no two aircraft are alike. In addition, Gulfstream offers several interior configurations. The G650ER comes with four living zones, but to fully take advantage of the aircraft's range, a crew rest area is needed. This takes up the space of one living zone. An optional rear galley also takes up half of the living space.
G650ER owners are treated to an abundance of electric seats covered in quilted leather, while there are fine wood trims installed throughout the cabin. The arrangement of seats can be customized, including for a conference area, and owners can also specify couches, television screens, and a bed in a dedicated room. The rear lavatory can be optioned to include a shower. In its highest-density layout, the G650ER can carry 19 passengers and sleep 10, but most interior configurations accommodate far fewer passengers.
Specification Gulfstream G650 Gulfstream G650ER
Entry into service 2012 2014
Max capacity 19 19
Cabin length 46 ft 10 in (14.27 m) 46 ft 10 in (14.27 m)
Cabin width 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Cabin height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Cruising speed Mach 0.85 - Mach 0.90 Mach 0.85 - Mach 0.90
Service ceiling 51,000 ft 51,000 ft
Range 7,000 NM (13,000 km) 7,500 NM (13,900 km)
The G650ER comes with 16 of Gulfstream's signature oval windows. The cabin is pressurized to an ambient altitude of less than 5,000 ft, whereas even modern commercial airliners typically feature a pressure altitude of roughly 6,000 ft. The G650ER also has an air filtration system and features advanced air-ionizing technology to eliminate germs and viruses. The G650ER can fly past Mach 0.90 and cruises at 51,000 ft, which is both faster and higher than a typical commercial jet, meaning that passengers experience real-time savings by using the G650ER.
Comparing To Michael Jordan's Prior Jet
Gulfstream G550 Taking OffCredit: Shutterstock
Before being assigned to the current Gulfstream G650ER, the registration N236MJ was worn by a Gulfstream G550. This aircraft was reregistered as N239MJ and subsequently sold to the Bank of Utah Trustee. Details regarding the transaction are limited, but Celebrity Flight Tracker shows that the last logged flight of the G550 was in October 2024, which coincides with the delivery of the G650ER. The G550 was purchased second-hand in 2006 from private aircraft broker GuardianJet, originally registered as N550MZ.
The aircraft was heavily refurbished, and Michael Jordan specified a paint scheme similar to that of the G650ER. The G550, however, was primarily painted white rather than a dark grey, with the same elephant print pattern. The rear of the aircraft is painted grey rather than red, and it still features the iconic Jumpman logo. The G550 also features outlines around the cabin windows, but in cyan rather than red. The flight deck windows, meanwhile, do not have a painted outline.
|Specification|Gulfstream G550|Gulfstream G650ER|
|Entry into service|2004|2014|
|Max capacity|19|19|
|Cabin length|43 ft 11 in (13.39 m)|46 ft 10 in (14.27 m)|
|Cabin width|7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)|8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)|
|Cabin height|6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)|6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)|
|Cruising speed|Mach 0.80 - Mach 0.85|Mach 0.85 - Mach 0.90|
|Service ceiling|51,000 ft|51,000 ft|
Range 6,750 NM (12,500 km) 7,500 NM (13,900 km)
The interior of the G550 is nothing short of opulent, with the best materials and finishes that Gulfstream had to offer in the 2000s. However, the G550 was an evolution of the Gulfstream V, which debuted in 1997. The Gulfstream V and all prior models shared the same cross-section, dating back to the turboprop-powered Grumman Gulfstream I developed in the 1950s. It was smaller with a lower ceiling height than the G650ER, and the G550 is also less capable and flies slower. As such, the G650ER is an upgrade in every measure, although the G550 remains a competent aircraft.
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Gulfstream and Dassault Falcon private jets airplanes at Dallas Love Field airport (DAL)Credit: Shutterstock
There are other equally impressive ultra-long-range private jets on the market, most notably Bombardier's Global series. These aircraft are every bit as opulent and capable as a Gulfstream G650ER, with equivalent performance. But while the Global series does have its customer base, Gulfstream's GVI family (G650/G650ER, G700, G800) remains a clear winner, with public figures such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, and more choosing to fly Gulfstream.
Gulfstream aircraft are renowned for their quality and performance, and the company has used unique attributes of its aircraft to create a sophisticated brand that ensures the name alone differentiates its aircraft from Bombardier or Dassault. The aircraft have a unified exterior design language, they come with unique features such as oval windows, and the company has marketed these planes in a more comprehensive manner than other private jet manufacturers. It also helps that Gulfstream is focused on building business jets, while other companies are more diverse. Bombardier, for instance, also used to build airliners and trains before selling off these divisions.
The Gulfstream name is simply less diluted as the company focuses on high-end jets. The Gulfstream brand is well-developed and associated with wealth, especially in pop culture. As such, most individuals who make it big will want a Gulfstream, simply because it's the best private jet that money can buy, even if there are equivalent options. But these equivalent options, like a Global 7500, are more obscure to someone who isn't as familiar with aviation.