Colts owner Jim Irsay adds to music memorabilia with $915K Elton John piano
Jim Irsay is expanding a different type of roster. The Indianapolis Colts owner added to his music collection Saturday with the piano used on tour by Elton John.
Irsay tweeted the gain, writing "Elton's piano. Just added to the collection."
Elton’s piano. Just added to the collection.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 17, 2021
He reportedly paid $915,000 for the instrument during an auction by Heritage Auctions in Dallas on Saturday, per ESPN's Mike Wells. It's a Steinway & Sons Model D Grand Piano that the performer used on tour from 1974 to 1993. He signed it with the inscription, "Enjoy this as much as I have, Elton John," per ESPN.
Irsay adds to musical collection
The piece will join other musical items acquired by Irsay over the years, including a Ringo Starr drum set he purchased for $2 million to complete a collection. In 2016, he paid $137,500 for the "Yellow Cloud" guitar Prince used in the 1990s. It was purchased at an auction in Beverly Hills.
In April of 2019, he paid $718,750 for John Lennon's piano, which was used to write songs for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
Months later, Irsay bought the 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar David Gilmour played on for Pink Floyd albums that included "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall." Irsay paid $3.975 million, per the Indianapolis Star.
Irsay tweeted that news as well, adding it was "the most expensive guitar EVER purchased" and that money would go to charity. He also paid $1.095 million for Gilmour's 1969 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar and a travel case for "The Black Strat" for $175,000. The auction benefitted ClientEarth, an environmental law organization that works to fight climate change.
He even has a tomato soup wrapper signed by Andy Warhold and a script for the movie "Jerry Maguire," per ESPN.
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