$2.6B NASCAR team owner Michael Jordan’s brand new private jet - All you need to know about it

NBA superstar and NASCAR team owner Michael Jordan has acquired a new Gulfstream G650ER Private Jet this year. The 23XI Racing's co-owner took delivery of the aircraft on October 3rd and has clocked a total of 54 hours flying with the jetliner.

Apart from his high-flying action on the basketball court, Jordan also has an affinity for fast aircraft. The NBA Hall of Famer got his first private jet, a Gulfstream G-IV in 2016. The athlete-turned-businessman customized the jet by adding the iconic Air Jordan brand on its tail and custom paint job with an elephant print design to resemble Air Jordan shoes. He later got the Gulfstream G550, before getting the latest model, the G650ER from Gulfstream Aerospace.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR725 jet engines, with a rated takeoff thrust of 16,900lb per engine, the luxurious jetliner can reach a top speed of about Mach 0.925 and reach a maximum altitude of 51,000 ft. Despite its high performance, the G650ER boasts a maximum flying range of up to 7,500 Nautical Miles (approx. 8630.84 miles). It carries a maximum payload of 6,500lb and can hold up to 48,200lb of aviation fuel in its tanks.

As for the interiors, the $2.6-billion-worth (as per Celebrity Net Worth) Jordan has customized the jetliner to his preference. It can comfortably accommodate 19 passengers, along with a four-person crew. The 100-foot-long plane has plush leather-wrapped recliners, a dining area, an LED-lit bar with a variety of beverages, and a private bedroom for longer flights. With all changes, the plane carries an estimated price tag of about $70 million (as per the New York Post).

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NASCAR, CEO Jim France filed a motion to dismiss Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing's antitrust lawsuit by calling it baseless

Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, is currently embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France. The NBA Hall of Famer is joined by his 23XI partner Denny Hamlin and Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.

Both teams filed the lawsuit in federal court to oppose NASCAR's dominating and unfair behavior with the new charter system. The teams got a partial win in the ongoing battle when NASCAR agreed to remove an anti-competitive clause from its open team agreement, thereby allowing 23XI and FRM to compete as open teams in the 2025 season.

However, both squads are still pushing the 4th Circuit Court for an injunction to allow them to compete as chartered teams until the lawsuit is settled. This has prompted NASCAR and its CEO France to file motions to dismiss the suit by calling the allegations baseless.

“Plaintiffs improperly seek to drag NASCAR’s CEO, Mr. James (“Jim”) France, into a legal battle motivated by Plaintiffs’ inability to secure all their preferred contractual terms from NASCAR during the negotiations over the 2025 Charter,” reads the filing by NASCAR.

23XI and FRM now have until December 16th, 2024 to respond to the sanctioning body's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.