It’s a well-known fact that sneakers can be expensive, especially when purchased on the resell market. But have you ever wondered just how costly they can actually be? We’ve spent a vast amount of time delving into the archives and researching some of the most expensive sneaker sales of all time. You might find it hard to believe just how much certain pairs have sold for over the years!
From friends and family Air Jordan 4 releases to game-worn Converse , you can find it all in this list, so if you’re looking to brush up on your sneaker knowledge and learn about some of the holy grails, it’s absolutely time to get stuck in! After all, these might just make you feel better about that pair you overpaid for that one time.
10. UNDFTD x Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro ($18,500) Back in 2005, LA-based sneaker retailer UNDEFEATED was given the honour of being the very first sneaker boutique to be granted a collaboration with Jordan Brand. The result was this olive-green hued Air Jordan 4 that’s inspired by military flight jackets. Notable details include a velcro tongue patch and orange trimmings. The release was limited to just 72 pairs, with the majority gifted to friends and family. The mix of incredible design and exclusivity means these are one of the most expensive pairs on the resell market, and that's if you can even find them in your size!
9. Air Jordan 5 Retro Michigan Fab Five ($20,000) Designed by Tinker Hatfield and Dan Sunwoo to honour perhaps the greatest combination of players in the history of basketball, the Air Jordan 5 “Fab Five” was a sneaker that never even made it to the shelves. Created exclusively for friends and family of Jordan Brand, the yellowed-out AJ5 showcases plenty of serious details including an embroidered “M’ on the tongue, as well as “Hail To” and “The Victors” stitched onto the inside of the left and right tongues. As “Grail Pairs” go, these are up there with the best of them!
8. DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 3 "Grateful" ($20,000) DJ Khaled has been known to publicly voice his love for Jordan Brand plenty of times over the years, and in 2017 they gave the rapper a rare chance to collaborate on the AJ3 . While the sneaker was never mass produced, serious Jordan collectors instantly know what’s up when it comes to the DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 3 “Grateful”. Decked out in vibrant red, the pair commemorates the birth of his son Asahd and also showcases classic Nike elephant print. The look is topped off with “We The Best” hang tags.
Image via requestboutique
7. Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4 Retro ($30,100) Eminem, Carhartt and Jordan Brand teamed up back in 2015 and hit the ground running with the three-way collaboration way before it was a thing. Working on the Air Jordan 4, the trio offered up a low-key blacked-out model that was crafted from Carhartt canvas fabric and detailed with silver-tone metal accents. Eminem’s signature logo took pride of place on the right heel tab, while a Jason Vorhees mask was placed on the left heel tab. An extremely limited number of these were produced, with 10 pairs auctioned via eBay for a charitable cause.
6. Stephen Curry Game-Worn Under Armour 6 "Moon Landing" ($58,100) Now while it is a hugely respectable brand in it’s own right, you might not have expected to see any Under Armour sneakers in this list. These aren’t just any Under Armour’s however, they’re a 1 of 1 “Moon Landing” pair worn by The Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. Worn for a full game against the Houston Rockets and then signed by the man himself, the pair were auctioned off for $58,100 with all profits going towards STEM education initiatives for schools in the Bay Area.
5. Single Nike MAG from 1989 "Back to the Future II" ($92,100) If you’re a sneakerhead of some shape or form it’s likely that you’ve already heard about the Nike MAGs somewhere along the way. Originally worn by Marty McFly during 1989’s Back to the Future II, the silhouette was designed by Tinker Hatfield exclusively for the film (which was set in 2015). While the sneakers did eventually see a release later on, in this instance a single sneaker from the original movie set (complete with a crumbled midsole) was auctioned off via eBay for a whopping $92,100. Definitely one for the collector’s vaults!
4. 2016 Self-Lacing Nike MAG ($104,000) Fast forward to 2016 and Nike was ready to re-release the Nike MAG for the second time. Back in 2011 a total of 1,500 were auctioned off online for charity, however this time around the sneakers featured legitimate self-lacing technology, to mirror how they appeared in the film. A total of 89 pairs were created and were sold via an online raffle where tickets were priced at $10 and an unlimited amount could be purchased. In total, $6.75 million was raised for Parkinson’s research. Just two months after the release, a pair sold via private auction in China for $104,000.
3. "Flu-Game" Game-Worn Jordan 12 ($104,765) If you’re a Michael Jordan fan then it’s likely you’re already familiar with the “Flu Game” story. After developing flu-like symptoms before game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals, Michael Jordan refused to sit out for the game and went on to score 38 points for the Chicago Bulls, in turn winning the game. After the game, MJ gifted the AJ12s and the socks he wore during the match to ballboy Preston Truman, who in turn sold them via auction in 2013. The “Flu Game” colourway has become a classic in it’s own right, with retro releases launching in 2016, 2009 and 2003.
2. Michael Jordan’s Game-Worn Converse Fastbreaks ($190,373) Way back before Jordan Brand was a thing, Michael Jordan was known for rocking high-top Converse Fastbreaks. He wore them for the entirety of his time playing for the University of North Carolina, before he moved onto the NBA. The pair in question were worn during a match against Spain as part of the 1984 Olympic Games. They were sold for $190,373 via private auction in 2017 and came complete with an autograph and MJ’s orthotic inserts. Rumour has it that Converse was highly interested in purchasing this particular pair, although it dropped out when the auction price became too expensive.
1. Nike 1972 Waffle Racing Flat "Moon Shoe" ($437,500) Designed by Nike co-founder and Oregon University track coach Bill Bowerman, the Nike “Moon Shoes” are arguably the holy grail when it comes to collectors pairs. Originally crafted using his wife’s waffle iron, only a handful of these sneakers are known to exist, with this pair in particular made in 1972 by one of Nike’s earliest employees, Geoff Hollister. Each pair is one-of-a-kind and irregular due to the handmade nature, and was also in deadstock, unworn condition when it was sold. Auctioned off by Sotheby’s and Stadium Goods as part of a collaborative effort, the sneakers fetched a record-breaking £437,500.
