Most Valuable Sneakers Ever Sold

By: Spencer Kranz

Everybody loves their sneakers, but not all sneakers are created equal. Here are some of the most valuable sneakers ever sold. Starting off our list is a one-of-a-kind pair that has borne witness to the Grammys themselves, one of the most important events in American culture; this of course is the pair known as the “Grammy Worn” Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototype, and it sold for a whopping 1,800,000 dollars. Just to put that in perspective, the money spent to acquire this single extraordinary pair of sneakers could have been used to buy 5 thousand pairs of Adidas Yeezy Boost 750s at their launch price. So, why are they so valuable, well they were worn by none other than Kanye West himself to the 50th annual Grammys where he gave a magnificent performance of “Hey Mama” and “Stronger”. Recognizable by their jet black color and signature pink “Y” medallion lace locks, these sneakers are the most expensive sneakers ever sold, and for sneaker enthusiasts everywhere, it is pretty clear why.The next most expensive pair of sneakers happen to also be one-of-a-kind; they are the Nike Air Jordan 1’s from 1985, which were personally worn by the legendary Michael Jordan himself. Sold at more than 560,000 dollars, these scuffed shoes may be the most unlikely kicks to ever go for this much money on the market; that is until we consider that those scuff marks were won during many nail-biting games in the 80s by one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. In classic Chicago Bulls style, the sneakers are easily recognizable with their white, red, and black colorway that Michael wore most often during his games, not to mention his unique signature in black permanent marker on the side. Although they were estimated to fetch no more than 160,000 dollars in their landmark auction, it is easy to see why they went for so much more with their unique history and famous owner.This last sneaker is not one-of-a-kind, but it is by no means one-of-many; it is the Buscemi 100 MM Diamond sneakers, one of the most expensive lines of sneakers in the world. Coming in at 132,000 dollars a pair, these shoes come with 11.5 carats of diamond which are set in 18-carat gold. These shoes are practically jewelry for your feet, and you’ll really regret stepping in a stray mud puddle with these bad boys on. Originally unveiled on the 8th of September, 2015, at the Buscemi SoHo opening party, you can’t even buy these sneakers online, to get them, you have to go to the source, the SoHo store in New York City itself.Sneakers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but to some people, they are priceless, and to the buyers of the sneakers discussed, priceless is actually within their price range. Whether you can afford them or not, sneakerheads everywhere can appreciate the immense cultural, or in some cases, literal, value of sneakers, bringing us all together, despite the pandemic keeping us apart.