Famed Jim Irsay collection to be sold at auction

The Irsay household volition auction disconnected the bulk of the memorabilia postulation owned by Jim Irsay -- a compilation of items for which the precocious Indianapolis Colts proprietor erstwhile said helium was offered much than $1 billion.

The auction volition beryllium run by Christie's starting successful March, with the Irsay household readying to support immoderate prime items and providing a information of proceeds to charity.

"This determination was not made lightly, but with heavy reflection and emotion for the bequest helium built," the Irsay household said successful a connection released Thursday by the Colts. "Our dada was a passionate collector, driven not by possession, but by a profound appreciation for the beauty, past and taste resonance of the items helium curated. From iconic instruments to handwritten lyrics by legends to uncommon humanities artifacts and documents, each portion successful the postulation tells a communicative -- and helium was ever truthful excited to stock those stories with the world."

Largely known for its immense enactment of philharmonic instruments, including ones owned by members of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Kurt Cobain and Eric Clapton, the postulation has besides contained specified items arsenic Muhammad Ali's "Rumble successful the Jungle" title belt, the saddle utilized for Secretariat's Triple Crown tally and a more-than-200-year-old transcript of the Declaration of Independence.

Christie's said the postulation "includes bonzer sports and movie memorabilia, U.S. statesmanlike artifacts, highly uncommon books, documents and manuscripts with a absorption connected American history, the 'Beatnik' question and overmuch more." Christie's volition clasp escaped nationalist exhibitions successful New York astatine its determination successful Rockefeller Plaza.

"Christie's is honored to connection this magnificent collection, truthful lovingly compiled, maintained, and shared by legendary collector Jim Irsay implicit decades," said Julien Pradels, president of the Christie's Americas region. "These bonzer objects volition beryllium made disposable to passionate collectors astir the globe, who person a once-in-a-lifetime accidental to ain a portion of history, and supply this exquisite postulation its adjacent chapter."

A enactment of the postulation had been utilized arsenic portion of a bid of traveling exhibitions and concerts successful caller years, including a one-year tally astatine Indiana University that ended successful September.

Irsay said successful 2023 that helium thought the postulation would "always beryllium together" but noted that it yet wouldn't beryllium up to him.

"Look, it's not mine. I ever say, you ne'er spot a hearse pulling a U-Haul," Irsay said. "I mean, I don't ain anything. Someone other is going to ain it, and idiosyncratic other is going to beryllium successful here."

Irsay, who had owned the Colts since 1997, died successful May astatine the property of 65. His 3 daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, person since taken implicit ownership of the team, which is disconnected to an NFL-best 7-1 commencement successful 2025 down backmost Daniel Jones and moving backmost Jonathan Taylor. Irsay was inducted into the team's ringing of grant earlier this season, and the Colts person been wearing a "JI" spot connected their jerseys.

The Irsay daughters, who person enactment astatine slightest 2 of Irsay's homes up for sale, said they believed "it's clip for a caller beingness for the collection."

"It's our sincerest anticipation that these artifacts find aboriginal stewards who recognize and cherish their significance," they said.

ESPN's Stephen Holder and The Associated Press contributed to this report.