$3.5 Billion Worth Michael Jordan Was Inadvertently Involved in Dead Photographer Scam That Drained Over a Million Dollars, as Per Reports

Any memorabilia from the NBA world are sold for a hefty price. When it comes to $3.5 billion worth Michael Jordan, perhaps the piece can fetch quite a bit more. So, it is not a surprise then, that a Jordan-owned game jersey was sold for $27000 at Grey Flannel Auctions. However, things took a sharp turn when the authenticity of the collectible was questioned.

According to a report by the Action Network, a group of swindlers fabricated a foundation under Lakeland ledgers photographer, Tony Ranze, to operate a false authentication process of the jersey.

Is the Tony Ranze Foundation involved in the auction fake?

The Tony Ranze Foundation was a key factor in authenticating the collectible. The research material were photos presented by the foundation. They were primarily used to authenticate the jersey. However, according to sources, the foundation is an independent organization and has nothing to do with the late Mr. Ranze.

Mr. Ranze succumbed to death in 2006. The photographer’s son Nic Ranze clarified that the organisation is unaffiliated to the Ranze family. Furthermore, it was noted that the foundation’s official website was created very recently in July 2023. 

Moreover, after the sale, a representative of the new owner of the jersey urged Mei Gray, one of the most trusted photo-matching authorities to authenticate the jersey. For those who are wondering, Mei Gray authentication is considered one of the highly guaranteed sources.

With the help of enhanced archival videos and photos, the accurate date and the authenticity of the collectible can be verified. Mei Gray certified the jersey and informed it to be dating back to Jordan’s 1996 Eastern Conference games.

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However, there are still some unanswered questions.

Michael Jordan’s jersey might not be authentic

If the sources are correct, the price of this important piece from Jordan’s career will soar past four times its estimated price.

But what’s important is that the authentication was done using the pictures sent by the Tony Foundation. According to the new owner’s representative, all the pictures are new and nowhere to be found in Getty. As some people noticed major differences between the pictures sent by the foundation and the game 3 or 4 from the 1996 Conference Finals pictures on Getty, the question of uncertainty still hangs over the memorabilia. 

An avid collector posted a detailed video on the differences between the jersey and the collectible. The collector claimed the pictures posted by the organization as photoshopped. 

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