Top 10 most expensive sneakers ever sold: These Michael Jordan's game-worn kicks cost more than a Bugatti

Indian Express

7 hours ago

10 most expensive sneakers in the world: What began as a subculture rooted in basketball courts, hip-hop videos, and skate parks has exploded into one of the most influential and lucrative corners of the fashion world. In today's world, sneakers are status symbols, considered investments, and sometimes, even museum-worthy art pieces.
Gone are the days when sneakers were just about comfort or athletic performance. Now, sneakerheads are lining up for days, entering raffles, and shelling out thousands to even lakhs of rupees for that one elusive pair. Collaborations with celebrities, designers, and artists – from Kanye West to Travis Scott – have only added rocket fuel to this phenomenon, turning rare sneakers into objects of desire that rival luxury watches and designer handbags.
In July 2019, the game changed forever for sneakerheads and collectors. That was when Sotheby's made headlines with its first-ever sneaker auction, selling a pair of ultra-rare 1972 Nike 'Moon Shoes' for a staggering $437,000, nearly three times the estimated $150,000 price tag. Just ten months later, in May 2020, the same auction house topped its own record by selling a signed pair of Air Jordan 1s for an eye-popping $560,000.
As The World's Greatest Sneaker Collections editor Woody puts it, these jaw-dropping figures aren't just milestones for collectors. They signal something bigger: the arrival of wealthy investors treating sneakers as the next frontier in high-value assets. Since those historic auctions, the private market for rare kicks has gone into overdrive, with prices soaring to mind-boggling levels. 'Looking back, those early numbers almost seem like a steal,' Woody notes, 'if you can wrap your head around the idea of worn sneakers costing as much as real estate.'
And it's only getting crazier. With the rise of sneaker auctions and ever-growing interest in one-of-a-kind pairs and game-worn icons, the ceiling keeps climbing. Whether it's a piece of sports history or an ultra-exclusive design, these sneakers are redefining what collectibles can be. So, get ready–we're counting down the most expensive sneakers ever sold, and the list is nothing short of wild.
In 1972, when Nike was still taking its first steps as a brand, co-founder and track coach Bill Bowerman crafted one of the earliest performance sneakers in its history. Nicknamed the 'Moon Shoes' due to their unique waffle-pattern soles that left prints resembling those of astronauts, only around a dozen pairs were ever made. These handmade prototypes were distributed to athletes competing in the United States Track & Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and eventually went on to inspire the launch of Nike's iconic Waffle Trainer in 1974.
Decades later, in 2019, these relics from Nike's earliest days made headlines again–this time for setting a new benchmark in the world of sneaker collecting. Sold at a Christie's auction, the Moon Shoes became the first sports sneakers to break into the auction world, helping to legitimise a niche that has only grown bigger since. Though experts initially valued the pair at around $160,000, the final bid soared to nearly three times that amount. The buyer, Canadian entrepreneur Miles Nadal, described the shoes as nothing less than 'a true piece of sports and pop culture history.'
Just a few months earlier, yet another pair of Air Jordan 1s had made auction history—setting a new benchmark for the highest price ever paid for sneakers at the time (surpassing the 2019 record listed below). This particular pair, worn by Michael Jordan himself during a game in his rookie season and bearing his signature, became the center of a bidding frenzy. As the 10-day auction neared its close, the offers skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping $300,000 in the final hours, ultimately selling for an astonishing $560,000.
On April 12, 2013, Kobe Bryant etched his name into sports legend with one of the grittiest performances of his career. Midway through a game against the Golden State Warriors, he tore his Achilles tendon–yet remarkably, he stayed on the floor, scored a total of 32 points, and even sank two crucial free throws while barely able to stand. It was a defining moment of his relentless 'Mamba Mentality'.
So, it came as no shock when, in February 2025, the sneakers he wore during that iconic night–drenched in Lakers purple and gold–fetched a jaw-dropping price at Sotheby's, soaring past the half-a-million-dollar mark.
In August 2020, riding the wave of The Last Dance frenzy, a pair of game-worn Air Jordan 1s made headlines after selling for over $500,000 at a Christie's auction. The shoes, worn by Michael Jordan during an exhibition game in Italy, were expected to hit around $850,000 but still drew massive attention.
What set this pair apart? A piece of shattered glass lodged in the sole–reportedly from the very backboard Jordan broke with a dunk during that game. (Not to be confused with the later 'Shattered Backboard' sneakers.) That same auction also saw another pair, worn during the 1992 Olympic gold medal match, go for more than $100,000.
After Game 5 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Utah Jazz ball boy Preston Truman received an unforgettable gift: the sneakers Michael Jordan wore during his legendary 'Flu Game' performance. Battling food poisoning, Jordan led the Bulls to victory in what became one of the most iconic games of his career.
In 2020, capitalizing on the buzz from The Last Dance documentary and renewed interest in Air Jordans, Truman sold the black-and-red Air Jordan 12s to Grey Flannel Auctions for just over $200,000. By 2023, the same pair fetched a staggering $1.38 million at auction.
However, the story took a twist–Truman later sued the auction house, alleging he was pressured into the original sale. That legal battle is still unfolding, but one thing's certain: few sneakers carry the weight of basketball history quite like these.
When a pair of Nike Air Ships worn by Michael Jordan sold for nearly $1.5 million at Sotheby's in late 2021, they briefly held the title of the most expensive sneakers ever and still rank among the priciest sports memorabilia in history. Worn during Jordan's fifth NBA game in 1984, the Air Ships are legendary–not just for their rarity, but because they predate his iconic Air Jordan line. As the first sneakers he wore in the league, they represent a pivotal moment in both basketball and sneaker culture.
It's not just Jordans dominating the luxury sneaker scene. In spring 2021, Sotheby's made headlines again with the sale of a one-of-a-kind pair of Nike Air Yeezy prototypes – the very pair Kanye West wore during his 2008 Grammy performance. The price was over $1 million, marking the first time sneakers crossed the million-dollar mark.
The historic purchase was made by investment platform RARES. Its founder, Gerome Sapp, described the move as a way to make sneaker culture more accessible and financially empowering for the communities that built it – calling the Yeezys 'a piece of history.'
Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Matt Senna is known for turning iconic sneakers into resin sculptures, typically sold in limited runs for around $450. But in 2020, he pushed the envelope by creating a one-of-a-kind Air Jordan 10 entirely out of 24-karat gold. Commissioned by none other than Drake, the shoes aren't wearable–each weighs about 100 pounds–but they earn a spot on this list purely for their bold, over-the-top brilliance.
After ESPN's The Last Dance reignited global fascination with Michael Jordan in 2020, demand for sneakers tied to his legendary final season soared. In a landmark Sotheby's sale last year, a pair of Air Jordan 13s–worn by MJ during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals–sold for a jaw-dropping $2.2 million.
The iconic 'Bred' colorway sneakers, still in impressive shape despite their game-worn status, became one of the most expensive sports shoes ever sold–proving once again that when it comes to sports memorabilia, Jordan reigns supreme.
Earlier this year, Sotheby's made sneaker history by selling the 'Dynasty Collection' for a record-breaking $8 million–the highest sneaker sale in the auction house's history.
The collection featured eight individual sneakers, each worn by Michael Jordan during the NBA Finals across eight different seasons. The origin of this unique collection dates back to 1991, when Bulls PR officer Tim Hallam asked Jordan for one of his game-worn shoes–a tradition MJ continued after every Finals series. These are the unmatched sneakers he kept.
What made the sale even more remarkable? None of the shoes came as pairs. The lot was accompanied by signed photos of Jordan–wearing just one sneaker–after each championship win, captured by photographer Bill Smith.
Source: GQ