Lifestyle
Salary Finished in One Week? The Spending Habits Keeping Young Ghanaians Broke
Salary: For many young workers in Ghana, payday is one of the most exciting moments of the month. After weeks of reporting to work, dealing with customers, meeting deadlines, and enduring traffic, a salary brings a sense of relief.
There is money in the account again. You can pay bills, buy groceries, settle debts, and maybe finally take care of a few personal needs.
But sometimes, that excitement does not last very long.
Within a few days, the money begins to disappear. A mobile money transfer here, lunch with colleagues there, a few online purchases, money sent to family members and an unexpected expense can quickly reduce what initially looked like a comfortable salary.
Before the second week of the month arrives, some workers are already checking their account balances, wondering how they managed to spend so much money in such a short time.
The situation raises an important question: are young Ghanaians earning too little to meet their needs, spending beyond their means, or struggling with both problems at the same time?
The excitement of payday can be expensive
For some workers, payday comes with a strong desire to reward themselves for surviving another month of work.
After working hard, they may feel they deserve a nice meal, new clothes, a weekend outing or something they have wanted for a long time.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying the money one has worked for. The problem begins when the excitement of receiving a salary makes it easy to spend without considering what must be paid before the next payday.
Someone who has been postponing several purchases may decide to buy everything at once. Another may invite friends out because the money has finally arrived.
A worker who normally avoids expensive restaurants may suddenly feel comfortable spending more because their account balance looks healthy.
The difficulty is that the salary has to cover an entire month, even when the spending happens within the first few days.
What feels like a small reward on payday can become a financial burden when several such purchases happen together.
Mobile money has transformed financial transactions in Ghana. People can send money to relatives, pay bills, purchase goods and transfer funds without visiting a bank.
However, the convenience of digital payments can also make spending feel less noticeable.
When someone pays for food with physical cash, they may see the money leaving their wallet. With mobile money or digital payments, a few taps can complete a transaction within seconds.
A GH¢30 transfer may not seem significant. Neither does GH¢50 spent on lunch, or GH¢40 used to purchase an item online.
But when these transactions happen repeatedly, the total can become substantial.
Consider a worker who spends GH¢35 on lunch for 20 working days. That amounts to GH¢700 over a month, before accounting for breakfast, dinner, snacks or transport.
Add occasional food deliveries, subscription payments and weekend outings, and everyday spending can consume a considerable share of the salary.
The issue is not that every small purchase is unnecessary. Rather, people may underestimate the combined cost of expenses that appear insignificant individually.
One way to address this is to review mobile money statements and bank transactions regularly. Seeing the actual figures can reveal habits that are otherwise easy to overlook.
The pressure to look successful
Another challenge facing some young adults is the pressure to maintain a lifestyle that appears successful.
Social media provides a constant stream of photographs and videos showing restaurant visits, expensive outfits, holidays, new gadgets and fashionable locations.
Although these posts rarely reveal the full financial circumstances behind them, viewers can easily compare their own lives with what they see online.
A person may begin to feel that they are falling behind because their friends appear to be enjoying better experiences.
This can create pressure to purchase clothes they do not need, visit places they cannot comfortably afford, or spend money on outings simply to avoid feeling excluded.
In some cases, people may use borrowed money or credit to maintain appearances.
The challenge is that social media presents the visible part of people’s lives, not necessarily their debts, financial responsibilities or savings.
Someone who regularly posts expensive outings may have a comfortable income, but they may also be prioritising those experiences over other needs. Without knowing the full picture, comparing lifestyles can lead to unrealistic expectations.
Financial stability does not always look impressive online. Sometimes, it means staying home, cooking a meal, paying bills on time and putting a little money aside for future needs.
Sending money to family can consume a large part of a salary
For many young workers in Ghana, earning a salary does not mean the money belongs exclusively to them.
There may be parents to support, younger siblings in school, relatives facing emergencies or household expenses that require regular contributions.
Some workers help with school fees, utility bills, medical expenses and food for family members. Others are expected to contribute to funerals, family gatherings and other social obligations.
These responsibilities can be expressions of love, solidarity and cultural values.
However, they can also make budgeting difficult when requests arrive frequently or when family members assume that receiving a salary means someone has money available to share.
A worker earning a modest income may find that a significant portion of their salary goes towards supporting other people before they have paid their own rent, transport costs and bills.
The situation becomes even more complicated when refusing a request could be interpreted as a lack of care or respect.
One practical approach is to determine how much can reasonably be allocated to family support each month. This allows people to help within their means without neglecting essential expenses.
Families can also benefit from open conversations about financial limitations rather than assuming that every request can be met immediately.
Helping others is important, but it should not require someone to repeatedly borrow money to survive until payday.
Not every worker who runs out of money quickly is financially irresponsible.
The cost of necessities can place considerable pressure on people whose incomes have not kept pace with their expenses.
Transport, rent, food, electricity, water, school fees and other household responsibilities can consume a large share of a monthly salary.
For workers who commute long distances, transport costs can become particularly significant. Spending money on several transport connections each day can add up over the course of a month.
Food is another major expense. Buying meals outside the home may be convenient for people who leave early and return late, but frequent purchases can be more expensive than preparing some meals in advance.
Even people who try to live modestly may struggle when they face unexpected expenses such as medical bills, repairs, family emergencies or increases in household costs.
This is why discussions about salary management should not automatically blame workers for their financial difficulties.
Budgeting can help people understand and manage their money, but it cannot make an inadequate income sufficient for every essential need.
A realistic financial plan must account for both spending habits and the actual cost of living.
The habit of buying things because they are on sale
Discounts and promotional offers can make shopping feel like an opportunity to save money.
A person who sees a shirt reduced in price may feel compelled to buy it before the offer expires. Another may purchase household items, accessories or gadgets because an online seller advertises a limited-time deal.
The reasoning often sounds sensible: the item is cheaper now, so buying it is a good decision.
But there is an important distinction between saving money on something you need and spending money on something you would not otherwise have purchased.
If a person spends GH¢200 on unnecessary items simply because they are discounted, the money has still left their account.
Promotional messages can create urgency, making shoppers feel that they will lose an opportunity if they do not buy immediately.
A useful habit is to pause before making non-essential purchases. Ask whether the item was already on your shopping list, whether you can afford it without borrowing and whether you would still want it if the discount disappeared.
Sometimes, the best bargain is the item you decide not to buy.
Peer pressure and the cost of maintaining friendships
Friendships can bring happiness, emotional support and memorable experiences. However, social activities can also become expensive when people feel obligated to participate in every outing.
A group may plan a birthday dinner at a restaurant, organise a weekend trip or decide to visit an entertainment venue. Each event may appear affordable on its own, but several outings in a month can put pressure on a limited budget.
Some people agree to plans they cannot comfortably afford because they do not want to appear broke, boring or unsupportive.
Others may spend more than they intended because everyone in the group is ordering food, drinks or additional services.
The pressure can be particularly difficult for young adults who are trying to maintain friendships while saving towards bigger goals.
However, a healthy friendship should not depend on a person’s willingness to spend money.
Friends can choose less expensive activities, meet at home, share simple meals or plan outings that reflect everyone’s financial circumstances.
It is also reasonable to decline an invitation when the cost does not fit one’s budget.
Being unable to afford a particular outing does not mean someone values their friends any less.
Buy now, pay later: when tomorrow’s salary is already spent
Another financial challenge arises when people use credit to purchase items before they have the money available.
Borrowing is not automatically a bad financial decision. Credit can serve legitimate purposes when the terms are clear, and repayment is manageable.
However, problems can arise when people repeatedly borrow to finance non-essential purchases or maintain a lifestyle they cannot afford.
A person may use credit to purchase a phone, clothes or household items, expecting to settle the payment with the next salary.
But when payday arrives, the money is already committed to previous purchases.
They may then borrow again to cover current expenses, creating a cycle in which each new salary is partly used to pay for the past.
Small repayments can also become difficult to manage when several loans, digital credit facilities or informal borrowing arrangements overlap.
Before taking on credit, it is important to understand the total repayment amount, applicable fees, due dates and consequences of missing payments.
Borrowing to meet an essential need may sometimes be unavoidable, but repeatedly using credit for discretionary spending can make financial stability harder to achieve.
People are often advised to save a percentage of their salary, build an emergency fund and invest for the future.
Although these are useful financial principles, saving can be difficult when income is already committed to basic expenses.
A worker who pays rent, supports relatives, covers transport and buys food may have little money left at the end of the month.
Others may have enough income to save but struggle because spending decisions are made before savings are set aside.
In either situation, the first step is to understand where the money goes.
A simple record of income and expenses can help identify whether the main challenge is low income, high essential costs, unplanned spending or a combination of these factors.
For those who have some flexibility, setting aside a manageable amount immediately after payday can help prevent savings from becoming whatever happens to remain at the end of the month.
The amount does not have to be large at first. Consistency and a realistic target are more useful than choosing an ambitious figure that cannot be maintained.
People should also avoid comparing their savings with those of friends whose incomes, responsibilities and living costs may be very different.
Practical ways to make a salary last longer
For workers who regularly find themselves short of money before the next payday, a few changes can help create greater control over spending.
Plan before payday arrives.
List the expenses that must be covered, including rent, food, transport, utilities, debt repayments and family responsibilities. This creates a clearer picture of how much money is actually available for other activities.
Separate needs from wants.
Essential expenses should take priority over purchases that can wait. This does not mean eliminating all entertainment or personal treats, but it does mean deciding how much can be spent without affecting important obligations.
Track everyday spending.
Record even small purchases and mobile money transfers for at least a few weeks. The results may reveal patterns that are easy to miss when relying on memory.
Set a limit for social activities.
Decide how much you can comfortably spend on eating out, entertainment, shopping and weekend plans. Once the limit is reached, choose free or less expensive alternatives.
Be realistic about family support.
Decide what you can contribute regularly and communicate honestly when additional requests exceed your budget. Helping within your means is better than repeatedly borrowing to satisfy every request.
Build an emergency fund gradually.
If your circumstances allow, save small amounts towards unexpected expenses. An emergency fund can reduce the need to borrow when something goes wrong.
Review your expenses regularly.
At the end of each week, check whether your spending matches your plan. If it does not, identify the reason and adjust your approach rather than waiting until the end of the month.
Look at your income as well as your spending.
If essential expenses consistently exceed what you earn, cutting out occasional treats may not solve the problem. Depending on your circumstances, increasing income, seeking better-paid work, developing a marketable skill or finding more affordable arrangements may be necessary.
There is no single budgeting formula that works for everyone. A useful plan is one that reflects your actual income, responsibilities and priorities.
The conversation about young Ghanaians running out of money before payday should go beyond blaming people for buying food, going out with friends or occasionally treating themselves.
Some workers genuinely need to examine their spending habits. Impulse purchases, unnecessary borrowing and pressure to maintain appearances can undermine financial stability.
At the same time, low earnings, rising living expenses, family obligations and limited opportunities to increase income can make it difficult for others to save, even when they are careful with money.
Both realities deserve attention.
Financial discipline involves making thoughtful decisions with the resources available. It does not mean denying oneself every pleasure or pretending that income is sufficient when it is not.
The goal is to find a balance between meeting immediate needs, enjoying life, supporting loved ones and preparing for the future.
A salary should provide more than a few days of excitement followed by weeks of anxiety. Whenever possible, it should be managed in a way that gives the earner a clearer understanding of their financial position and greater control over the next payday.
So, let us talk honestly: when your salary enters your account, what usually takes the biggest share — rent and bills, family responsibilities, transport and food, or shopping and entertainment? And do you believe the main problem is poor spending habits, low salaries or the rising cost of living in Ghana?
Walk into certain workplaces, businesses or social gatherings in Ghana, and you may notice something interesting: titles matter.
Some people are comfortable being called by their first names, while others prefer Boss, CEO, Director, Madam, or another title that reflects their position.
But an interesting question arises when the titles become bigger than the work itself: are people more interested in building something meaningful or in being recognised as important?
In a society where professional success is often associated with respect, influence and financial stability, titles can carry significant weight.
Being introduced as a manager, director or chief executive can create an impression of authority. For entrepreneurs, a title may also help establish credibility when meeting potential clients or business partners.
There is nothing inherently wrong with taking pride in one’s achievements. Titles can reflect genuine responsibility, years of experience and hard work.
The problem begins when the desire for recognition becomes more important than the responsibility attached to the title.
Someone may want to be addressed as a boss but struggle to manage a team. Another person may insist on being treated as an authority while refusing to listen to people with more experience.
In such situations, the title becomes a symbol of status rather than a reflection of service.
The pressure to appear successful can be particularly strong among young professionals and entrepreneurs trying to establish themselves.
On social media, business owners may highlight their positions, achievements and lifestyles as a way of attracting attention. Some genuinely use these platforms to promote their work, while others may feel that looking successful is necessary to gain respect.
This can create a situation in which appearances receive more attention than the actual quality of a person’s work.
A business may have an impressive name and a grand introduction, but customers will eventually judge it by its service, reliability and results.
Likewise, a person with no impressive title can still earn tremendous respect through honesty, competence and consistency.
In Ghana, calling someone Boss or Madam can be a polite way of addressing them. It does not automatically mean the person is arrogant or obsessed with status.
Context matters.
However, problems can arise when someone treats people differently simply because they have a lower job title, earn less money or occupy a less prestigious position.
The cleaner, security officer, apprentice, driver and junior employee all contribute to the functioning of workplaces and businesses. Their work deserves dignity, regardless of whether they have impressive titles.
True leadership is not demonstrated only by the way people address you. It is also reflected in how you treat those who cannot offer you anything in return.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to become a CEO, own a company or rise through the ranks of an organisation.
Ambition can motivate people to work harder and create opportunities for themselves and others.
But titles should follow responsibility, not replace it.
The next time someone introduces themselves with an impressive title, perhaps the more important question is not what they want to be called but what they have built, how they treat people and whether their work speaks for itself.
After all, would you rather work for a humble person who delivers results or an impressive-sounding boss who makes every task unnecessarily difficult?
In the end, a title may attract attention, but character and competence are what sustain respect.
It often begins with a simple promise: Let me watch just one more video before I sleep.
You pick up your phone to check WhatsApp messages, watch a few TikTok videos, scroll through Instagram or catch up on the latest entertainment gossip. Before you realise it, one hour has passed. You tell yourself you should sleep, but another interesting video appears on your screen, and suddenly, bedtime is postponed again.
You check the time. It is 11:45 pm.
A few more videos later, it is 12:30 am. You begin to feel sleepy, but you are curious about what comes next. Perhaps someone has posted a funny skit, a celebrity has made a controversial statement, or a discussion in the comments has become too interesting to ignore.
Then, almost unexpectedly, the clock strikes 2 am.
For many people, this has become a familiar part of modern life. What should have been a few minutes of entertainment turns into hours of scrolling, leaving them with little time to rest before the next day’s responsibilities begin.
In Ghana, where many workers face early morning commutes, students have classes to attend and business owners must prepare for another day, losing sleep to a mobile phone can have consequences that extend beyond feeling tired in the morning.
The question is: why do we keep doing it when we already know we need to sleep?
The Just Five More Minutes Trap
One of the biggest reasons people stay awake longer than planned is the difficulty of putting down something entertaining.
Social media platforms offer an almost endless supply of videos, pictures, celebrity updates, comedy skits and personal stories. There is always another post to watch, another comment to read or another trend to understand.
Unlike a television programme with a clear ending, scrolling through social media does not naturally tell you when it is time to stop.
You can watch one video after another without reaching a final episode or completing a particular task. Each new piece of content offers another reason to remain online.
A person may begin by watching a Ghanaian comedian’s skit, move to an entertainment interview, check a friend’s status and end up watching videos about a completely different subject.
Before long, the original reason for picking up the phone has been forgotten.
The problem is not necessarily that people intend to sacrifice their sleep. Rather, they may underestimate how quickly time passes when they are absorbed in digital entertainment.
Five minutes becomes 20 minutes, 20 minutes becomes an hour, and an hour becomes a significant portion of the night.
Why the Night Feels Like the Best Time to Scroll
For some people, nighttime offers the first opportunity in the day to relax without interruptions.
During working hours, they may be busy attending meetings, serving customers, studying, running businesses or taking care of family responsibilities. Their phones may receive little attention because other tasks demand their time.
By the time they return home, eat, complete household chores and prepare for the following day, the evening may be the only period they feel they truly own.
This can make the phone particularly attractive.
A worker who spends the day following instructions from a supervisor may want to relax by watching comedy videos. A student may want a break from assignments and examinations. Someone managing a small business may finally have time to browse social media after closing for the day.
For these individuals, scrolling is not always about boredom. It can be a way of unwinding after a demanding day.
However, the desire to enjoy personal time can create a difficult cycle. The more activities people postpone until the evening, the later they may stay awake. The less they sleep, the more exhausted they may feel the following day.
By evening, they may once again seek easy entertainment to recover from the day’s stress.
Without a deliberate change in routine, the pattern can continue.
Another reason people struggle to disconnect is the feeling that something important might happen online while they are away.
A trending topic may be unfolding. Friends may be sharing updates in a WhatsApp group. A celebrity controversy may be attracting thousands of comments. A video everyone is discussing could become the next big online sensation.
Some people feel the need to remain informed so they can participate in conversations the following day.
In Ghana, where discussions about entertainment, relationships, football, politics and everyday social issues can spread rapidly across digital platforms, the desire to stay updated can be strong.
Nobody wants to arrive at work or meet friends only to discover that everyone is discussing something they have not seen.
Yet most online conversations do not require immediate attention. A video posted at midnight will usually still be available in the morning, and a discussion can often continue without someone’s participation throughout the night.
The feeling of urgency may be stronger than the actual consequences of missing a few hours online.
Learning to accept that not every trend needs immediate attention can make it easier to put the phone away.
The Hidden Cost of Losing Sleep
Staying up late occasionally may not cause serious problems for everyone, but regularly cutting sleep short can affect how people feel and function.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults generally need at least seven hours of sleep each night, although individual needs vary. Teenagers typically need eight to 10 hours.
When people repeatedly sleep less than they need, they may experience daytime tiredness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and reduced alertness.
For a student, this could mean struggling to pay attention during lessons or finding it harder to remember information while studying.
For a worker, insufficient sleep may make ordinary tasks feel more demanding. Someone who drives long distances or operates machinery may also face increased safety risks when excessively tired.
Sleep plays an important role in attention, learning, memory and emotional regulation. It is not simply time spent doing nothing; it is a necessary part of maintaining physical and mental functioning.
Regularly sacrificing rest for online entertainment can therefore affect productivity, relationships and overall wellbeing.
The consequences may be especially frustrating when someone spends hours watching videos at night, only to wake up feeling too exhausted to enjoy the following day.
The bedroom is supposed to be a place for rest, but for many people, the mobile phone has become a constant companion under the bedsheets.
Some people watch videos while lying down. Others keep checking messages whenever a notification appears. There are also those who intend to watch one short clip but become so engaged that they remain awake long after they should have gone to sleep.
The light emitted by screens can contribute to delaying the body’s natural preparation for sleep, particularly when people use bright screens late at night. More importantly, stimulating content, notifications and the habit of continually checking the phone can keep the mind engaged when it should be winding down.
A heated argument in a comment section, a frightening video or an exciting football highlight may leave someone mentally alert instead of relaxed.
Even when the body feels tired, the temptation to continue watching can make it difficult to end the session.
This is why relying entirely on willpower may not always work. A person who has already spent an hour scrolling may find it easier to continue than to make a sudden decision to stop.
Creating a routine that reduces distractions before bedtime can be more effective than repeatedly promising to watch only one more video.
One of the most frustrating parts of staying awake late is the moment the alarm rings.
The same person who confidently told themselves at 1:30 am that they would wake up early may suddenly find it difficult to leave the bed.
The alarm rings once. They postpone it. It rings again, and they promise themselves another five minutes.
Eventually, they wake up in a hurry, rush through their morning routine and leave home feeling exhausted.
For workers in Accra and other busy urban centres, the consequences can be particularly inconvenient. Missing an early bus, spending longer in traffic or arriving late at work can turn an already demanding morning into a stressful experience.
Students may struggle to get ready for school, while people who work from home may discover that their concentration is poor throughout the morning.
Ironically, the time spent watching entertaining videos at night may leave them with less energy to enjoy the following day.
Some people then depend on coffee or other caffeinated drinks to feel more alert. Although caffeine can temporarily improve alertness, it cannot fully replace the benefits of adequate sleep.
When excessive caffeine consumption continues late into the day, it can also interfere with sleep for some people, potentially reinforcing the cycle.
It would be unfair to blame every late night on social media.
Mobile phones help people maintain friendships, communicate with family members abroad, learn new skills, conduct business and access information that may not be readily available elsewhere.
For many young Ghanaians, digital platforms are also important spaces for creativity, networking and earning income.
The problem arises when the use of these platforms begins to interfere consistently with essential activities such as sleeping, studying, working and spending time with loved ones.
Some people may need their phones for work, particularly those who manage online businesses, create content or work in media. For them, simply switching off the phone at a fixed time may not always be practical.
However, setting boundaries can still help.
Separating necessary work from casual scrolling, muting non-essential notifications and deciding when to stop watching entertainment videos can reduce the likelihood of losing hours unintentionally.
The aim is not to abandon technology but to make sure it serves people’s needs rather than controlling their routines.
How to Break the One More Video Habit
Changing a late-night scrolling habit does not necessarily require deleting every social media application or giving up entertainment altogether.
Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.
Set a realistic bedtime.
Choose a bedtime that allows enough sleep before you need to wake up. If you must leave home early, calculate backwards from your waking time rather than waiting until you feel exhausted.
Stop scrolling before getting into bed.
Instead of making the bed a place for endless entertainment, establish a short wind-down routine. You could take a shower, prepare your clothes for the next day, read a few pages of a book or listen to something calming.
Use app limits and bedtime settings.
Many smartphones offer screen-time reports, app timers, focus settings and scheduled notifications. These features can help you recognise how much time you spend online and reduce interruptions at night.
Keep your phone out of immediate reach.
If checking your phone has become automatic, place it on a table away from the bed when possible. If you use it as an alarm, make sure you can hear it without keeping it under your pillow.
Turn off unnecessary notifications.
Not every message requires an immediate response. Muting non-essential alerts can reduce the temptation to reopen applications after deciding to sleep.
Give yourself time to relax.
If you use social media to unwind after a demanding day, do not treat rest as something you must earn. Make time for entertainment earlier in the evening so that bedtime does not become the only opportunity to enjoy yourself.
Avoid trying to change everything overnight.
If you normally sleep at 2 am, moving your bedtime earlier gradually may be easier than making a dramatic change immediately. Consistency matters more than a perfect routine that lasts only two days.
The modern mobile phone offers entertainment, communication and information in a device that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand.
But its convenience can also make it easy to forget the limits of our time and energy.
There will always be another video to watch, another message to read and another online conversation to follow. The internet rarely runs out of content, which means waiting until there is nothing left to watch is not a realistic way to decide when to sleep.
Sometimes, the most useful decision is to recognise that the day has ended.
You do not have to watch every trending video tonight. You do not have to respond to every non-urgent message immediately. And you don’t have to sacrifice tomorrow’s energy to stay entertained for another hour.
The next time you find yourself saying, Just one more video, ask yourself whether the next few minutes are worth the sleep you are about to lose.
Because the truth is simple: the videos will still be there tomorrow, but the hours you spend awake tonight cannot be returned.
A K9 detection dog at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has helped authorities uncover approximately 72 pounds of prohibited Ghanaian food items, highlighting ongoing efforts to prevent restricted agricultural and food products from entering the United States.
The shipment was identified during an inspection at the New York airport after the specially trained dog alerted officers to the contents of luggage or a consignment arriving from Ghana.
Authorities subsequently examined the items and determined that they included food products that are restricted or prohibited under U.S. import regulations.
Airport inspection teams routinely screen international baggage and cargo for agricultural products that could introduce pests, diseases or other risks to U.S. agriculture. Certain meat, plant and animal-derived products are subject to strict entry requirements.
The discovery demonstrates the role of detector dogs in assisting customs and agricultural inspection officers at major international gateways. K9 teams are trained to identify specific odors and can help officers locate undeclared or restricted products more efficiently.
Passengers arriving in the United States are required to declare agricultural and food products they are carrying. Depending on the product and its origin, items may be permitted, restricted or prohibited.
Authorities have continued to remind international travelers to check U.S. entry requirements before bringing food products into the country.
The seizure at JFK serves as another example of the screening measures in place to protect U.S. agriculture while enforcing import regulations on food and agricultural products.
October 2, 2026 — Sports
A game-worn Michael Jordan jersey from the Chicago Bulls’ celebrated 1998 championship season has sold for $12.3 million (£9.3 million), setting a new auction record for Jordan memorabilia.
The jersey was worn by Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, when the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz during what became known as Jordan’s “Last Dance” season.
The sale was conducted through Joopiter, the digital auction platform founded by Pharrell Williams. Entrepreneur Ryan Gough had put the jersey on the market, with Joopiter estimating before the auction that it could fetch between $10 million and $15 million.
Image: Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls jersey during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals against Utah Jazz. Image title: “Michael Jordan in Action During the 1998 NBA Finals” Caption: Jordan wore the jersey during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, part of his final championship season with the Chicago Bulls.
A record for Jordan memorabilia
The final price surpassed the previous record for a piece of Jordan memorabilia: $10.091 million, paid in 2022 for the jersey he wore during Game 1 of the same 1998 NBA Finals.
Jordan and the Bulls eventually defeated the Jazz 4-2 in the Finals, giving the superstar his sixth NBA championship. He was also named Finals MVP, as he had been for each of his six championship-winning series.
The 1997-98 campaign was Jordan’s final season with the Bulls and became one of the defining chapters of his career. The team won its second three-peat before Jordan retired from the NBA for a second time.
Image: Clear photograph of the actual red Chicago Bulls No. 23 jersey. Image title: “The £9.3m ‘Last Dance’ Jersey” Caption: The game-worn jersey has become the most expensive piece of Michael Jordan memorabilia sold at auction.
More than a jersey
The auction reflects the continued demand for memorabilia connected to Jordan’s final championship season with Chicago.
Joopiter described the Game 3 jersey as a particularly significant piece of sporting history, pointing to its connection with the end of the Bulls’ championship era and Jordan’s influence on basketball’s global popularity.
Another Jordan collectible was also sold alongside the jersey. His 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello reportedly fetched about $2.7 million (£2 million), around four times the previous auction record for that model.
Image: Jordan celebrating with the Bulls during the 1998 championship run. Image title: “The Final Championship Era” Caption: Jordan led Chicago to its sixth NBA championship during the 1997-98 season.
It is not the overall sports-memorabilia record
Despite the enormous price, Jordan’s jersey does not hold the record for the most expensive game-worn sports item.
That distinction remains with Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jersey, which sold for $24.12 million (£18.2 million) in 2024.
For Jordan collectors, however, the latest sale establishes a new benchmark for memorabilia associated with one of the most significant seasons of his career.
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 30, 2026
Nigerian dancer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Ben Dancer, has completed his seven-day dance marathon in Lagos, ending an endurance challenge aimed at securing a new Guinness World Records title.
Daniel began the challenge at Freedom Park in Lagos and set an initial target of 168 hours. He reached the seven-day mark at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, before continuing for several more hours. His team said the final timer recorded 7 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, equivalent to more than 176 hours.
The 33-year-old dancer was attempting to surpass the existing Guinness World Records mark for the longest dance marathon by an individual, which is listed at 127 hours, achieved by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.
Guinness verdict still pending
Despite completing the marathon, Daniel has not yet been officially declared a Guinness World Records holder.
Guinness World Records has confirmed that his application is active and that evidence from the attempt must go through its review and verification process before a record can be officially recognised.
This means the completion of the physical challenge and the official recognition of a new record are separate stages.
A celebration of Nigerian dance and culture
Throughout the marathon, Daniel incorporated different Nigerian dance styles and musical genres, including Afrobeats, Fuji, jazz and zouk.
He also wore traditional Nigerian clothing during portions of the performance as part of an effort to highlight the country’s cultural diversity. Supporters gathered at Freedom Park to watch the marathon, while videos of the challenge circulated widely online.
Daniel has reportedly spent about 18 years working professionally in dance and has worked as a dancer, choreographer, creative director, dance consultant and fitness instructor. He is also associated with Bendancer Academy International, which focuses on developing dancers.
Medical check-up after the challenge
Following the demanding performance, Daniel was taken to hospital for a medical check-up, according to reports. His team had incorporated rest periods, hydration, food and medical support into the challenge as he attempted to sustain the prolonged performance.
For now, the record remains subject to Guinness World Records’ verification process. If the evidence satisfies the organisation’s requirements, Daniel’s attempt could result in a new official record.
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