Teen Profits from Thrift Store Find: Wilt Chamberlain Jacket Sells for $90,000

A remarkable thrift store find has turned a Portland teenager into a significant seller after he purchased a warmup jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain for just $3. The jacket, believed to have been worn during the 1972 NBA Finals, was auctioned for nearly $90,000, verified by Sotheby’s auction house.

Quinn Brown, 19, stumbled upon the Lakers jacket at a Goodwill store in January while searching through a bin of clothes. Recognizing the name 'Chamberlain' on the back, he conducted further research and found that the jacket matched measurements of the four-time MVP's jerseys and resembled one he had seen in an old photograph.

After posting about the jacket online, Sotheby’s reached out to Brown, offering to auction the item. The jacket was then authenticated and photomatched to images of Chamberlain wearing it during key moments of the 1972-73 season, including games from the Finals against the New York Knicks.

While Sotheby’s initially estimated the jacket could fetch between $150,000 and $250,000, it ultimately sold for $90,000. Despite not reaching the higher end of expectations, Brown expressed satisfaction with his impressive return on investment, making back 29,000 times his original purchase price.

Reflecting on his find, Brown remarked on the rarity of such an opportunity, stating, 'I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible. I got very, very lucky.'