By most accounts, the guitar assortment of late Indianapolis Colts CEO and billionaire businessman is the best on Earth. No different assortment options as many vital devices from the pages of guitar historical past.

Now, following Irsay’s loss of life earlier this yr on the age of 65, the whole monumental assortment is headed to the public sale block, with a collection of auctions set to be hosted by Christie’s New York starting March 2026.

The billion-dollar guitar assortment – valued as such when Irsay was as soon as provided the insane 10-figure sum by a “Center East aspect”, a proposal he in the end turned down – consists of among the most vital devices in guitar historical past, together with objects owned and performed by John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Janis Joplin, David Gilmour, and dozens of others.

Highlights, particularly, embrace Kurt Cobain’s Smells Like Teen Spirit Mustang and David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster – two guitars which maintain the #2 and #3 spots on the record of the costliest guitars ever offered at public sale – in addition to Eric Clapton’s legendary Idiot SG, which offered for $1.27 million in 2023, and John Lennon’s Gretsch 6120 Nation Gentleman. And that is only a tiny handful within the large assortment.

Free public exhibitions will accompany the auctions at Christie’s New York – situated at 20 Rockefeller Plaza – and a portion of the proceeds shall be donated to philanthropic causes championed by Irsay all through his life.

“Christie’s is honoured to supply this magnificent assortment, so lovingly compiled, maintained, and shared by legendary collector Jim Irsay over many years,” says Julien Pradels, president of the Christie’s Individuals area. 

“These extraordinary objects shall be made out there to passionate collectors across the globe, who’ve a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to personal a chunk of historical past, and supply this beautiful assortment its subsequent chapter.”

Extra info on the forthcoming auctions shall be out there within the coming months. 

We’ll endeavour to maintain you up to date right here at Guitar.com, however you may also keep tuned by way of christies.com/irsay.

Sam is the Affiliate Information Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Totally immersed in music tradition for almost all of his life, Sam has performed guitar for 20 years, studied music know-how and manufacturing at college, and likewise written for the likes of Guitar World, Complete Guitar, Metallic Hammer and MusicRadar.