Collector Conversation: Michael Strahan & Marc Lasry
In a New York City office decorated with marvel action figures, framed comic book pages, and a vibrant work of art featuring Superman, The 1916 Company CEO Justin Reis sat down with Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry and media professional and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan to discuss their foremost collecting motivations.
“I think you collect things that make you happy when you were a kid, things that give you happy memories,” Lasry said.
The decorated office is Lasry’s. It leaves no secret as to the objects of his fascination. His inclination for collecting, similar to Strahan’s, expanded with age into the world of watches. Their collections are robust, refined, and above all, reflective of meaningful moments and happy memories.
“Watches are something I will never stop collecting. Every watch that I have does mean something to me,” Strahan said.
His versatile collection is representative of the many hats he wears. On December 11th, 2021 he earned a new title as a space-traveler on Blue Origin’s third passenger space flight. In true collector fashion, he brought two watches with him to outer space, Rolex’s GMT-Master II “Pepsi” Ref. 126719BLRO with a meteorite dial and De Bethune’s DB28 Kind of Blue Z Ref. DB28BZBN.
Second to none in Strahan’s collection is his IWC Big Pilot, the same watch he gifted to his son for his high school graduation.
“Emotionally, this is the most valuable watch that I have because my son and I both have the same watch. It’s like a father-son combo,” Strahan said.
Lasry also shares a watch with his son, Patek Philippe’s Chronograph Ref. 5070G. It was his first timepiece from the brand and remains one of his all-time favorites.
A particularly special Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 126610LV, the “Starbucks”, was on Lasry’s wrist that day. Its green bezel nods to the Milwaukee Bucks’ team color. On the caseback, “NBA Champions” is engraved, commemorating the team’s 2021 NBA Championship win, the first in 50 years.
“Every time I wear it, you sort of think about back when we won the championship and I got to hold the trophy, and as Michael knows there’s no greater feeling than winning a championship,” Lasry said.
Strahan won the Super Bowl in 2008 with the New York Giants.
Patek Philippe’s discontinued Nautilus 5990 was on Strahan’s wrist the day we sat down with him. He also brought along a Rolex Yellow Gold Cosmograph Daytona with a Green Dial that he loves for its distinct color combination and the feeling he gets when he wears it.
Lasry shared a Panerai Luminor Marina Ref. PAM01499 that he loves for its versatility, considerable size and legibility. He also shared a Limited Edition Shinola Runwell Sport GMT Air Force One with the Presidential Seal, given to him by former President Bill Clinton.
What fuels the collector mindset? For some, it’s the thrill of the chase, for others, the feeling of possessing something rare and exclusive. For longtime friends Michael Strahan and Marc Lasry, it’s the memories of life’s most important moments.
