A massive amount of Jim Irsay’s prized possessions will soon hit the auction block.
The former billionaire owner of the Indianapolis Colts passed away in May at the age of 65. According to a death certificate obtained by the “Washington Post,” his cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest due to acute pneumonia, chronic atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrythmia.
Irsay’s family is now planning to auction off a majority of the late NFL owner’s memorabilia collection, which has been valued at more than $1 billion, in a sale managed by the Christie’s in March 2026.
According to the “Indy Star,” the family said in a statement, “This decision was not made lightly, but with deep reflection and love for the legacy he built.”
A few items from his collection will stay within the Irsay family, however, the “majority” will be sold to the public.
“Our dad was a passionate collector, driven not by possession, but by a profound appreciation for the beauty, history and cultural resonance of the items he curated,” the statement continued. “From iconic instruments to handwritten lyrics by legends to rare historical artifacts and documents, each piece in the collection tells a story – and he was always so excited to share those stories with the world.”
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The sale will feature musical instruments owned and played by some of the greatest musicians of all time, including the likes of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney, Jerry Garcia, Eddie Van Halen, and George Harrison.
It will also include unique collectibles like the late NFL owner’s Steve Jobs autographed Apple II manual, the saddle used by Triple Crown winner Secretariat, and Muhammad Ali’s 1974 championship belt, along with items owned by Ringo Starr, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Jim Morrison.
Irsay’s prized collection includes “extraordinary sports and movie memorabilia, U.S. presidential artifacts, extremely rare books, documents and manuscripts with a focus on American history, the ‘Beatnik’ movement and much more,” the family stated.
Prior to his passing, Irsay offered up his collection to host free exhibitions across the U.S. He also loaned several of his prized possessions to museums and nonprofit organizations for display and research.
The Irsay family says they hope the new owners of the items will “understand and cherish their significance.”
“In honor of our dad’s lifelong focus on giving, a portion of the proceeds from the sale will go toward philanthropy close to his heart. Giving back was always central to his vision, and this next chapter honors that commitment,” the family’s statement read.
You can sign up for more information about the auction here.
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