Jim Irsay paid $137,500 for Prince's Yellow Cloud guitar used by late performer in various concerts in the early-1990s, reported
The Associated Press.
Irsay, owner of the NFL Indianapolis Colts and a music memorabilia collector, had the winning bid in the Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills on Saturday..
"This Yellow Cloud guitar was Prince's main guitar and used in most of his early videos and touring performances and album recordings," the musician's former guitar technician Zeke Clark said on the
Heritage Auctions website, adding it was played from 1988 to 1994.
"In 1994, he broke the neck of this guitar at a French TV show. After returning to USA, I repaired neck and installed the first Floyd Rose set up Prince ever played. And then used in recording more albums, up until the symbol guitar was born. After the symbol guitar he wanted 24 additional cloud guitars made to be sold at his outlet store," Clark said.
Prince, 57, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was found unresponsive at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, according to
CNN. Toxicology tests showed the entertainer died from an accidental opioid fentanyl overdose.
Irsay, 57, is known for frequently opening his wallet to purchase pricey music collector items. The AP reported last December that he spent $1.75 million for Ringo Starr's first Ludwig drum set to go with his guitar collection from other Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon.
"Finally, after 45 years, the Beatles are together again," Irsay told the AP then. He also owns instruments from Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan.
Irsay's father, Robert Irsay, purchased the Colts when Jim Irsay was a teenager and he became the team's general manager at 24 in 1984, according to his
Indianapolis Colts biography. He would later replace father as owner in 1997.
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