Okay, let’s talk about one of the most underrated power moves in sports history. You know the Chicago Bulls, right? The team that became a global phenomenon in the 90s? Well, the guy who owns them now, Jerry Reinsdorf, didn’t just stumble into the job. He bought the team way back in 1985.
Think about that for a second. The year was 1985. The Ghostbusters theme song was everywhere, and your parents probably had a giant brick of a cell phone. Reinsdorf wasn’t just buying a basketball team; he was buying a project that could have gone either way. Why is that so cool? Because he snagged it before anyone knew it was the hottest ticket in town.
The price tag was… a little shocking
So, how much did Jerry shell out for the privilege of owning the Bulls? A cool $9.2 million. I know, right? That sounds like pocket change for a billionaire, but back then, it was a gamble. The Bulls were good, but they weren’t great yet. They had Michael Jordan, sure, but MJ was still just a dazzling rookie with a famous sneaker deal.
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It’s like buying a fixer-upper house in a sketchy neighborhood, only to discover it’s sitting on a gold mine. Reinsdorf bet on the city of Chicago and on a young kid from North Carolina. He didn’t know Jordan would turn into a six-time champion and a cultural icon, but he saw the potential.
Why 1985 matters more than you think
Here’s the fun part: Reinsdorf bought the team just one year after Jordan was drafted. That’s not a coincidence; it’s a masterclass in timing. Imagine if you’d bought stock in Apple right after the first iPod came out. Reinsdorf did the basketball equivalent of that move. He showed up at the party just as the music started to get really good.
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By 1987, the Bulls were already a solid playoff team. But Reinsdorf’s real genius? He didn’t mess with success. He let the basketball people—guys like Jerry Krause and Coach Phil Jackson—do their thing. He just signed the checks and smiled. It’s a lesson in trusting your team, even when it’s a bit messy.
From $9.2 million to billions—how?
Let’s do some quick, fun math. Reinsdorf’s original $9.2 million investment is now worth over $5 billion. Yes, with a “b.” That’s like buying a vintage t-shirt for a dollar and finding out it was worn by Elvis. But it wasn’t just luck. Reinsdorf helped build a brand—a red, black, and white juggernaut that stretched from Chicago to Tokyo.
Jerry Reinsdorf Signed Bulls 8x10 Photo (PSA) | Pristine Auction
The Bulls became a global marketing machine during the 90s. Michael Jordan’s face was on every cereal box, and Reinsdorf was the quiet guy in the suit behind the scenes. He didn’t crave the spotlight; he just wanted the trophy. And he got six of them. Not too shabby for a guy who started out owning a minor league baseball team.
But wait—was he a lucky duck or a genius?
Honestly, a bit of both. Reinsdorf himself says he got lucky with Jordan. But here’s the twist: he also built a stable front office. He didn’t fire coaches every season like some owners do today. He kept things calm. If you’ve ever tried to keep a plant alive for more than a week, you know consistency is hard. Reinsdorf made it look easy.
Plus, he bought the team at the perfect moment. The NBA was about to explode in popularity, and Chicago was a massive market. He wasn’t just a guy with a fat wallet; he was a guy with a good gut feeling. Don’t you wish you had that kind of intuition?
Jerry Reinsdorf Bulls Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images
So, when exactly did it happen?
Mark your calendars: March 1985. That’s when Jerry Reinsdorf and a group of investors officially took control of the Chicago Bulls. It wasn’t a splashy press conference with fireworks. It was just a quiet business deal that changed basketball forever. The old ownership had been struggling, and Reinsdorf stepped in like a cool older sibling taking over the family business.
Now, let’s compare it to something else. You know how Disney bought Star Wars for $4 billion, and then everyone started making jokes about Jar Jar Binks? Reinsdorf’s purchase was the opposite. It was a small, smart buy that brought out the best in everyone. No drama, just dominance.
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What’s the takeaway for us?
Here’s what I love about this story: it’s a reminder that timing is everything. Reinsdorf didn’t build the Bulls from scratch. He just showed up at the right time with the right attitude. He didn’t try to be a hero; he just let the heroes—like Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman—do their thing.
So next time someone asks you, “When did Jerry Reinsdorf buy the Bulls?” you can say, “1985, dude. Right before everything got awesome.” And if they ask why it matters, just smile. It’s a story about trust, luck, and a little bit of genius. Oh, and the greatest basketball team ever assembled. No big deal.
Pretty cool, right?