Sneakers have come a long way from being functional sportswear to being seen as a complement to the most fashionable outfits. The market for sneakers and sports memorabilia has skyrocketed in the last few years. The rise of athlete-endorsed sneakers in the late '70s and '80s, particularly with Nike's strategic signing of Michael Jordan at the peak of his fame, eventually led to an intertwining of basketball and hip-hop, which spawned a new subculture around shoes. Limited edition releases and sneakers worn by athletes like Michael Jordan and Lebron James have become highly sought-after, often fetching millions at auction.
10 of The Most Expensive Sneakers in The World
These shoes are more status symbols than accessories and tend to adorn collectors' closets instead of their feet. Below, we take a look at the most expensive sneakers ever sold.
The Dynasty Collection – $8 million
It has been over 20 years since Michael Jordan hung up his jersey and retired from basketball. He is arguably one of the most successful and famous athletes in the world, and his impact still resonates today. His name has become a worldwide brand, which is reflected in the immense popularity of any merchandise that bears the Jordan name.
In February of 2024, Sotheby’s auction house facilitated the most expensive sneaker sale in history. The sale featured six individual Air Jordan sneakers, dubbed 'The Dynasty Collection' worn by Michael Jordan during six of his NBA championships. The collection kicked off when Tim Hallam, the public relations officer for the Chicago Bulls in the 90s, asked Jordan for one of his shoes after the game in 1991 and continued to do so for every championship game he won.
Each of these sneakers symbolises a pivotal moment in his career and are remnants of the golden era of Jordan's career. The hammer for the entire collection fell at $8 million making it the most expensive sneaker sale in history, and the second-most valuable Michael Jordan memorabilia sold at an auction.
“The Last Dance” Air Jordan 13 – $2.2 Million
The NBA final in 1998 was Michael Jordan’s last game with the Chicago Bulls and his final championship win. The historic season was known as Jordan’s “Last Dance” as he planned to retire from the game after the season. They are the only complete pair of shoes worn by Jordan in an NBA finals game, according to Sotheby’s in New York, who sold the shoes for $2.2 million in 2023 – the most expensive price ever for a single pair. What is so remarkable about the ‘Last Dance’ sneakers is their immaculate condition. According to the auction house, they looked as if they had only been laced up and worn for the first time days before the sale.
Nike Air Yeezy Samples – $1.8 Million
Rapper and music producer Kanye West is one of the most influential figures in the industry. He has also made his mark on the world of fashion with his own brand of clothing and accessories. His Yeezy shoe line, released in collaboration with Adidas to much acclaim, was initially planned to be released under Nike’s brand. West wore the prototype for the very first Yeezy line during the Grammy Awards in 2008, giving fans a preview of what was to come. The same pair was sold for $1.8 million at a Sotheby's auction in the spring of 2021, making them the first pair of sneakers in the world to sell for over a million dollars.
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Nike Air Ship – $1.4 Million
The Nike Air Ship holds the distinction of being the first sneaker worn by Michael Jordan as part of his collaboration with Nike and is the precursor to the iconic ‘Air Jordans’ range. First worn in 1984, the Air Ship is a key part of Michael Jordan’s early career and his brand, which led to the shoes fetching $1.4 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2021.
“Flu Game” Air Jordan 12 – $1.3 Million
During game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan laced up this exact pair of Air Jordan 12s and went on to score 38 points despite being sick from food poisoning. The legendary game – infamously known as the ‘Flu Game’ – featured one of Jordan’s best performances on the court, resulting in a championship win. He gifted the shoes after the game to a ball-boy who later sold it for a little over $200,000. Three years later the shoes were sold at auction for $1.3 million.
“Glass Shard” Air Jordan 1 – $615,000
These Air Jordan 1 High "Chicago" sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during a 1985 exhibition game in Trieste, Italy, are a basketball icon. The pair, signed by Jordan, features a shard of glass from the backboard, which shattered while he was dunking the ball in a move that has now become legendary. Fetching $615,000 at auction, these sneakers symbolise Jordan's impact on the game, showcasing the extraordinary moments that defined his illustrious career. They are also the most expensive Air Jordan 1s ever sold at an auction.
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Game-Worn Air Jordan 1 “Chicagos” – $560,000
What may look like a regular 'Chicago' Air Jordan 1 in the famous red, black, and white colour scheme is actually a custom pair made for Michael Jordan during his rookie season. The materials used for the shoe were also different from the norm, with softer leather used on the uppers. These signed pairs were worn during a 1985 game and went through an explosive bid session in the final hours of a 10-day auction in 2022, ultimately closing at $560,000.
Nike “Moon Shoe,” – $437,500
Back in the early days of Nike, when it was still a startup, founder Bill Bowerman tried to build the brand's first-ever performance shoes. In 1972, he created the "Moon Shoes," which featured a unique waffle-tread sole that left footprints resembling those of astronauts in the dirt. Only 12 pairs of these prototypes were made and were distributed to competitors at the US Track & Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. In 2019, the only unworn pair of these historic shoes was auctioned at Sotheby's, fetching nearly three times the estimated price of $160,000. The $437,500 sale underscored their significance as artefacts in sports history and pop culture.
“Broken Foot” Air Jordan 1 – $422,130
Another pair of historic Air Jordan 1s is the pair Jordan wore during the game between the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors on October 29, 1985. During the game, Jordan fractured a bone in his left foot, which caused him to miss six months of playing and derailed his sophomore season. Dubbed the "Broken Foot" Air Jordan 1, this game-worn pair was put up for auction in January of 2022 where it sold for over $420,000, almost doubling its starting bid.
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Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force One – $352,800
Virgil Abloh was one of the biggest icons of fashion in the last decade. The founder of Off-White and creative director of Louis Vuitton established a legacy in the world of streetwear. Before his sudden passing in November 2021, he had worked on one of his most coveted sneaker designs – a Nike Air Force 1 entirely covered with Louis Vuitton's monogram and Damier check. All 200 pairs of the limited-edition sneakers were offered for sale via Sotheby's in 2022 to raise funds for Abloh's scholarship fund "Post-Modern. It was founded by Virgil to help academically promising students of Black, African American, or African descent. The sale shocked the world, as over 1200 bidders from over 50 countries bid on the shoes, raising a grand total of $25.3 million, 8 times more than the original estimate of $3 million. Of all the shoes, the only men's size 5 was sold for $352,000, which was 25 times higher than its original estimate and twice the price of the second most expensive pair.
Closing Thoughts
Sneakers have transcended their athletic origins to become blue-chip investments, blending fashion, culture, and history. These coveted items, often fetching astronomical prices at auctions, represent more than just footwear; they are symbols of personal identity and cultural milestones. The evolution from functional sports gear to high-value collectables highlights their unique place in modern society, where stories, rarity, and athlete endorsements drive their immense value. The sale of these shoes showcases the powerful intersection of sports, art, and fashion in shaping sneaker culture.
