Miami realtor who spent $500,000 on Brady’s ‘last touchdown pass ball’ emerges as value sinks
Miami real estate agent who spent eye-watering $500,000 on Tom Brady’s ‘last touchdown pass ball’ reveals his identity after value of the football plummeted when the GOAT walked back his retirement
- Brady’s ball was bought on March 12 at auction by an unknown bidder for $518,628
- The 44-year-old announced his retirement on February 1, and the final touchdown ball of his career was put up for auction by the fan who caught it
- The ball was used in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on January 23
- The day after the ball was sold by Lelands auctioneers, Brady announced that he was coming out of retirement and returning to the sport
- In response to news of the then-unknown bidder’s $518,628 loss, Brady tweeted that a bitcoin should be given to a charity of the bidder’s choice
- On Friday the buyer revealed himself as Ron Firman, a Miami-based commercial real estate agent, and the auction house declared the sale void
- Firman said that he and Brady – who he has never met – would split a bitcoin between charities of their choosing
A Miami commercial real estate agent has confirmed that he was the anonymous bidder who paid $500,000 for the ‘retiring’ Tom Brady’s final touchdown ball – only for Brady a day later to come out of retirement, rendering the memento almost worthless.
Ron Firman announced on Twitter on Friday that he had bought the ball, paying $518,628 at auction on March 12.
The ball was Brady’s final touchdown ball, thrown in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on January 23.
Brady, 44, announced on February 1 that he was retiring.
The fan in the stadium who had caught the ball then consigned it with New Jersey-based auctioneers Leland, and Firman bought it.
Tom Brady is pictured on January 23, against the Los Angeles Rams – playing in what was believed to be his final game: on February 1 he announced his retirement. The ball with which he scored his final touchdown was sold at auction on March 12 – and the following day, Brady came out of retirement
Ron Firman, a commercial real estate broker from Miami, bought the Brady ball at auction
The ball was auctioned by Lelands – a New Jersey-based auctioneer
The following day, Brady announced he was coming out of retirement.
‘At first, I couldn’t believe it,’ Firman told Inside Edition.
‘Is this possible? How could this be happening?’
Brady, informed about the auction, tweeted on March 18: Hey @FTX_Official…could we donate a Bitcoin to the charity of this person’s choice?!’
The bitcoin trader replied: ‘Now you’re talking! Let’s make it happen, Brady. 1 #bitcoin coming right up!’
Four weeks later, on April 15, Firman replied to both, claiming the bitcoin – but suggesting it be given to charity.
‘Tom, I was high bidder on the football so it could go to a museum for all to enjoy it,’ said Firman, confirming that the auction house had cancelled the sale.
‘The sale was voided because we know you have many more TD’s to throw!
‘Thank you for your very generous Bitcoin offer last month. But, would you like to split a Bitcoin for your favorite charity. Deal? It’d be my pleasure to hand you a check for a great cause. Lmk.’
Firman said he was not angered by the drama, noting that if Brady decides next season to retire for real, he is prepared to do it all over.
‘I’m going to be bidding on that ball again,’ he said.
