Did you know that there’s a pair of sneakers out there that’s coated in 24k gold?
Sneakers have become more than just a sporting accessory; they are now sought-after fashion accessories and works of art. Now, it’s relatively common to see them auction off the most expensive sneakers every year. As an example, Sotheby’s, the auction company that frequently sells multimillion-dollar art treasures, staged its first only shoe sale in 2019.
Most Expensive Sneakers Ever Made
If you’re interested in building an excellent sneaker collection, you’ll want to know about the priciest ones on the market. Read on for a full breakdown of the 9 most expensive sneakers ever made.
1. The Crowned King
Solid Gold OVO x Air Jordans for $2 Million.
Drake and Nike collaborated to create the Solid Gold OVO x Air Jordan to fulfill a long-held dream of wearing shoes encrusted with 24k gold.
Weighing 50 lbs apiece, these were made by American artist Matthew Senna. Given all the variables involved, it seems $2 million is a fair price.
2. Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy
Sold for $1.8 Million.
One of Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy Sample shoes sold for $1,800,000 at a private auction in 2008.
The Nike Air Yeezy Grammy Prototype that Kanye West sold to Sotheby’s for $1.8 million in a private sale on April 26, 2023, set a new auction record. According to Guinness World Records, these are the most expensive shoes ever sold in a private sale.
At the 2008 Grammy Awards, Kanye West performed in a pair of all-black Nike Air Yeezy 1s. One of the most sought-after sample sneakers among collectors and the general public, Nike never published the shoes.
3. Michael Jordan’s Nike Air Ships
Sold for $1.47 Million
Among the most expensive shoes sold at auction was this pair. Michael Jordan wore the Nike Air Ships during a game in 1984. And they sold for $1,472,000 to a collector.
The Nike Air Ships, worn by Michael Jordan at the 1984 NBA All-Star Game, have become the most expensive shoes sold at auction. On October 24, 2023, at Sotheby’s Las Vegas, they sold $1,472,000 to collector Nick Fiorella.
According to Brahm Wachter, the head of Sotheby’s Streetwear and Modern Collectables, “the transaction demonstrates that Michael Jordan and Air Jordan continue to have a prominent place in today’s sneakers market.”
Sotheby claims that Nike’s 1984 decision to create a Michael Jordan signature brand of shoes and apparel was a critical and unusual step in persuading Jordan to join the company. According to Sotheby’s, “it set the path for many of the player partnerships we currently see,” It has inspired the creation of exclusive apparel today, including matching Jordan tees, available online.
There has also been a resurgence of interest in basketball star Michael Jordan with the release of Netflix’s The Last Dance.
4. Nike Air Jordan 1 High Sneaker
Sold for $615,000.
Consider the story behind the Air Jordan 1 High-Shattered Backboard. ‘ These are the Nike, 1985, Size 13.5 High-Top, Game-Worn Signed Sneakers. Caitlin Donovan Christies, the company’s head of sales, handbags, and accessories, put it on display for the media at a preview.
Christie’s New York, July 24, 2020. – Christie’s and Stadium Goods have teamed to provide a unique look into Michael Jordan’s iconic Chicago Bulls footwear collection.
5. Michael Jordan’s vintage Nikes.
Sold for $615,000.
When Chicago Bulls’ great Michael Jordan wears the sneakers in an exhibition game in 1985, sold for $615,000 in August 2020 at an online Christie’s auction, we call them the “rarest of the rare.”
To learn more, visit the KicksCrew website to check out the new sneakers collections.
6. Nike Air Jordan 1
Sold for $560,000
Nike Air Jordan 1s were worn and autographed by Michael Jordan during the 1985 NBA season.
Sotheby’s auction in New York in 2020 sold these Nike Air Jordan 1s for over $500,000, again showing the design’s historical worth. Game-worn Chicago Bulls-themed shoes autographed by Michael Jordan in 1985 sold for more than three times their initial estimate.
7. 1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat “Moon Shoe”
Sold for $437,500.
Guinness World Records says they were the most expensive shoes ever auctioned.
“Moon Shoes” was sold at Sotheby’s New York on July 23, 2019, for $437,500, the 12 original Nike Waffle Racing Flats.
Miles Spencer Nadal, a collector and buyer of sneakers, stated, “I believe sneaker culture and collecting is on the edge of a breakthrough moment.”
Bill Bowerman, Nike co-founder and Oregon University track coach, handcrafted the new shoes, and a few of the original 12 pairs survive.
As stated by Guinness World Records, the new owner intends to “display the shoes — along with another 99 pairs bought in the transaction – at his Daring to Dream Automobile Museum in Toronto, Canada.”
8. Michael Jordan Olympic Converses
Sold for $190,373.
Converse sneakers worn and signed during the 1984 Olympic basketball final versus Spain by Michael Jordan sold at auction for $190,373 in 2017. ‘Michael Jordan Olympic Converses’
The final time Jordan wore Converse in an official game was the last time he wore them as an amateur.
9. Air Jordan 11 ‘Space Jam’ Sample
Sold for $176,400.
Signed ‘Player Sample’ by Michael Jordan Deadstock ‘Space Jam’ Air Jordan 11s
In July 2023, Sotheby’s auction house sold a Michael Jordan Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” Sample for $176,400. Michael Jordan wore these shoes for the 1996 Space Jam movie.
10. Air Jordan 12 Flu Game
Sold for $104,765.
Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” Air Jordan 12s from the legendary 1997 NBA Finals sold for $104,765 in 1993.
In a historic game, Michael Jordan outperformed his competitors despite supposedly having an illness, a cherished memory by all basketball fans.
Later, in the documentary series The Last Dance, people discovered Jordan had food poisoning rather than the flu.
So, you’re feeling the urge to collect sneakers or buy sneakers. Well, you can join the long list of people who take purchasing sneakers as a hobby or a life’s passion.
We hope our list of the nine most expensive sneakers sold expresses your creative juices. And, if you liked our article and would love to learn more, check out our fashion and lifestyle sections for all our lists and explainers.
What are the Most Expensive Sneakers Ever Made?
- Solid Gold OVO x Air Jordans Selling Pirce of $2 Million
- Michael Jordan’s Game-Worn Converse Fastbreak Selling Pirce of $190,373
- Buscemi 100 MM Diamond Selling Pirce of $132,000
- Air Jordan 12 (Flu Game) Selling price of $104,000
- Air Jordan 12 OVO (Drake Edition) Selling price of $100,000
- Diamond Encrusted Air Force 1 Selling price of $50,000
- Air Jordan 11 ‘Jeter’ Selling Pirce of $40,000
- Air Jordan 2 OG Selling price of $31,000
- Eminem x Carhartt Air Jordan 4 Selling price of $30,000
- DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 3 ‘Grateful’ Selling Pirce of $25,000
- Macklemore x Air Jordan 6 Selling price of $25,000
- Air Jordan 10 OVO Selling price of $20,000
- Air Jordan 4 Undefeated Selling price of $15,000
- Nike Air Mag Back to the Future Selling price of $14,500
- Adidas NMD_R1 Friends and Family Selling Pirce of $10,000
- Vlone x Nike Air Force 1 High Selling Pirce of $8000
- Nike Yeezy 2 Red October Selling price of $7,500
- Nike Dunk Low Pro SB Pigeon Selling price of $6,250
- Nike Foamposite One “Sole Collector” Selling Pirce of $6,000
- Air Jordan III OG Selling price of $4,500
What is the most expensive shoe ever made?
- Antonio Vietri Moon Star Shoes – $19.9 Million
- Passion Jewellers x Jada Dubai Diamond Shoes – $17 Million
- Debbie Wingham High Heels – $15.1 Million
- Shoes Thrown at President Bush – $10 Million
- Stuart Weitzman Rita Hayworth Heels – $3 Million
- Harry Winston Ruby Slippers – $3 Million
- Stuart Weitzman Tanzanite Heels – $2 Million
- Jason Arasheben Custom Tom Fords – $2 Million
- Stuart Weitzman Cinderella Slippers – $2 Million
- Drake’s Golden OVO x Air Jordans – $1.9 Million
What is the most expensive Nike item?
The 1984 Nike Air Ships Shoe sold for over $1 million at an auction.
