Pharrell Williams is expanding upon his entrepreneurial prowess with the launch of JOOPITER, a digital-first auction house and content platform, designed by Williams and ALASKA ALASKA, a design and creative service practice founded by the late and great Virgil Abloh. The cyberspace is designed with the modern collector in mind, with a focus on auctioning rare items and the stories that are held within the items themselves. Williams has already asserted himself as a master of creative entrepreneurship from the continuation of his line at Adidas, to his skincare brand Humanrace, and his ownership of The Goodtime Hotel in South Beach, Miami. 

“The idea behind JOOPITER is to embrace the energy that is released when objects change hands, and to respect the value that’s been created around these objects,” shares Williams. “JOOPITER is a new platform for myself and for my fellow curators, one where existing and future generations of collectors can feel welcome to take part in this exchange.”  

The debut collection, titled Son of a Pharaoh, is a 52-piece assemblage of iconic objects from throughout William’s career. Nearly all of the items are one-of-one, allowing bidders access into the vault of the legendary musician’s personal collection. Included in the preview of the collection are pieces like a varsity jacket from Williams’ high school alma mater, a pair of Adidas Consortium Stan Smiths hand painted by Williams, an assortment of Jacob & Co. custom jewelry, and a Louis Vuitton black monogram trunk that is emblazoned with a Billionaire Boys Club logo across the top.

Son of a Pharaoh will be available for an appointment-only public viewing held in New York on October 14 & 15, where the full collection will be on view, as well as more information about the auction. Proceeds from JOOPITER will go to Black Ambition, a group that creates space for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to excel as well as aiming to close the wealth and opportunity gap that burdens minorities. JOOPITER and Black Ambition are also set to partner in the creation of a new business competition for Black and Latinx female founders that are innovating in the realm of women’s wellness and fashion.