There was a time when sneakers were simply functional, built for comfort, crafted for athletic performance, and sold at modest prices. Fast forward to today, and the sneaker landscape has transformed into a global luxury market, where enthusiasts queue for hours, enter exclusive raffles, and spend eye-watering sums to acquire rare, limited-edition pairs. Fuelled by collaborations with cultural powerhouses like Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Virgil Abloh, sneakers have evolved into status symbols that now rival luxury watches and designer handbags. We take a look at the most expensive sneakers ever sold in the world.
The shift from streetwear to high art and collectibles became undeniable in July 2019, when Sotheby’s made waves with its inaugural sneaker auction. The highlight: an exceptionally rare pair of 1972 Nike “Moon Shoes” that fetched an unprecedented $437,000, nearly triple the pre-auction estimate of $150,000. The sale marked a watershed moment for the sneaker world, validating what had long been brewing in underground culture: sneakers were now investment assets.
Less than a year later, in May 2020, Sotheby’s upped the game again. A pair of autographed Air Jordan 1s, worn by Michael Jordan himself during his rookie NBA season, sold for an astonishing $560,000, breaking its own record and proving that sneakers weren’t just valuable — they were historical artifacts.
Nike Air Mag – $200,000
For movie buffs and sneakerheads alike, few shoes are as iconic as the Nike Air Mag — the self-lacing sneakers worn by Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II. Nike released real-life versions of the futuristic shoes in two drops: a non-lacing edition in 2011, and a limited power-lacing edition in 2016. The proceeds benefited the Michael J. Fox Foundation, raising over $6 million for Parkinson’s research. Among the highest sales – one 2016 pair auctioned at a charity gala for $200,000.
Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 – $352,800
The fusion of streetwear and luxury fashion reached a zenith in February 2022 when Louis Vuitton auctioned 200 pairs of the late Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers through Sotheby’s. These pairs, released just months after Abloh’s untimely death, were wrapped in LV’s classic monogram and Damier print, blending high fashion with streetwear edge.
Proceeds supported Abloh’s “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, designed to empower Black students pursuing creative careers. The highest-selling pair, a US size 5, went for an eye-popping $352,800 — nearly 25 times the pre-sale estimate and double the price of the next highest pair, a US size 5.5 that sold for $176,400. Abloh’s legacy has only grown since, and collectors continue to chase his creations with fervent passion.
Nike “Moon Shoe” – $437,500
Back in 1972, Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman hand-made a set of performance shoes for Olympic trials athletes, using a waffle iron to mold the soles — earning them the nickname “Moon Shoes” for the moonboot-like footprints they left behind. Only a handful were ever created, making them one of Nike’s rarest artifacts.
Decades later, one pair resurfaced and sold at Sotheby’s for $437,500. The buyer, Canadian entrepreneur Miles Nadal, called them “a true piece of sports and pop culture history.” The sale signaled the moment when sneakers stepped off the track and into the fine art world.
Game-Worn Air Jordan 1 – $560,000
In May 2020, another pair of Air Jordan 1s — game-worn and signed by Michael Jordan — ignited a fierce bidding war. As the auction closed, offers soared by over $300,000 in mere hours. The final hammer price? $560,000. The sneakers, worn during Jordan’s rookie season, captured a moment in basketball history and confirmed Jordan’s place as the king of both sports and sneaker culture.
“Achilles Game” Nike Kobe 8 – $600,000
Kobe Bryant’s legendary toughness was immortalised in his April 12, 2013 game against the Golden State Warriors. After tearing his Achilles tendon mid-game, Bryant astonishingly remained on the court to score 32 points and sink two vital free throws. The sneakers he wore that night — known as the “Achilles Game” Nike Kobe 8s — sold for $600,000, embodying his relentless “Mamba Mentality” and cementing their place in sports lore.
“Glass Shard” Air Jordan 1 – $615,000
During a 1985 exhibition game in Italy, Michael Jordan delivered a dunk so powerful it shattered the backboard — and embedded a shard of glass into the sole of his Air Jordan 1s. In August 2020, this unique pair fetched $615,000 at Christie’s. Though expectations were set around $850,000, the shoes’ final price still stunned collectors. That same auction included another pair of Jordans worn during the 1992 Olympic gold medal match, which sold for over $100,000.
“Flu Game” Air Jordan 12 – $1.3 Million
Michael Jordan’s 1997 “Flu Game” — in which he led the Chicago Bulls to victory despite battling severe illness — remains one of basketball’s most iconic moments. The black-and-red Air Jordan 12s worn that night were originally gifted to Jazz ball boy Preston Truman, who auctioned them for just over $200,000 in 2020.
Three years later, in 2023, the same sneakers sold for a jaw-dropping $1.38 million. Truman, however, later filed a lawsuit against the auction house, claiming he was coerced into the original sale — adding legal drama to an already storied piece of memorabilia.
Nike Air Ship – $1.4 Million
Before Air Jordans, there was the Nike Air Ship, the sneakers Jordan wore during his fifth NBA game in 1984. In late 2021, a game-worn pair of Air Ships sold for a staggering $1.47 million at Sotheby’s, briefly holding the title of the most expensive sneakers ever sold. This sale not only highlighted Jordan’s monumental influence but also underscored how deeply collectors value items tied to the very beginnings of an icon’s journey.
Nike Air Yeezy Prototypes – $1.8 Million
In 2021, Sotheby’s once again broke records by auctioning the Nike Air Yeezy 1 “Grammy” prototype — the pair Kanye West wore during his 2008 Grammy performance. The sneakers sold for $1.8 million to the investment platform RARES, becoming the first sneakers to officially break the $1 million barrier.
RARES founder Gerome Sapp described the purchase as a symbolic win for the culture that built sneaker hype. “This is a piece of history,” he said — one that not only reshaped auction values but brought attention to sneaker equity and cultural ownership.
Solid Gold Air Jordan 10 – $2 Million
In 2020, L.A.-based artist Matt Senna created an extravagant piece of wearable art: a solid 24-karat gold replica of the Air Jordan 10. Commissioned by rapper Drake, each shoe weighs roughly 100 pounds and, while not functional, commands awe for sheer audacity. Though technically more art sculpture than sneaker, the $2 million price tag earned it a spot on the list of the world’s most valuable kicks — a gleaming symbol of how far sneaker culture has come.
“The Last Dance” Air Jordan 13 – $2.2 Million
Riding high on the global success of The Last Dance documentary, Sotheby’s auctioned a pair of Air Jordan 13s worn by MJ during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals — his last championship win. Known for their classic black and red “Bred” colorway, the shoes were in remarkable condition despite being game-worn. Selling for $2.2 million, they became one of the most expensive sports shoes ever, underscoring the cultural gravity of Jordan’s final run with the Bulls.
The Dynasty Collection – $8 Million
Setting a new high watermark in the sneaker world, Sotheby’s sold The Dynasty Collection in 2024 for a record $8 million. The curated set included eight different Air Jordans — each one worn by Michael Jordan during the NBA Finals between 1991 and 1998, capturing the full arc of his championship dynasty. The collection originated from longtime Bulls PR executive Tim Hallam, who began collecting MJ’s shoes in 1991 after receiving a Finals-worn sneaker as a gift. It became a tradition — and ultimately, a record-breaking archive of basketball greatness.
