We all know what auctions are. It’s when a valuable item like artwork or rare item is put for sale and it goes to the highest bidder. We never thought that the day would come when we talk about sneakers being the item in question though! But since the sneaker industry became as big as it is today, it’s no surprise that sneakers are auction items. In fact, sneaker auctions became a place to find the best memorabilia for die-hard collectors. And in a way, a sneaker auction a much more expensive and exclusive version of sneaker reselling. So today, we’ll check out the most expensive sneakrs sold in auctions! Shall we?
Nike Sits on the Very Expensive Sneaker Auction Throne
If we trace back the history of the sneaker industry, Nike didn’t shine until the 80s. However, four decades were enough for the Swoosh to become the biggest sneaker brand out there. But it’s not only Nike that takes credit, because Jordan Brand is really at the heart of all this hype. And with that said, Jordans are the kicks that stripped Kanye’s Air Yeezy 1 Grammy prototypes of their title. The title? Well, it’s the most expensive sneakers at an auction! Now, let’s check out the list of the top 5 most valuable kicks, and then some more.
Top 5 Most Expensive Sneakers at Auctions
5. Game-Worn Jordan 12 ‘Flu Game’ – $1.38 million
It’s Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, with the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz putting up a fight at the Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Michael Jordan was not himself, because he looked extremely tired, with a fever hitting him then. But he did let this stop him from scoring 38 points and leading the Bulls to a victory on their rivals’ territory. And well, the Jordan 12 he had on his feet became a legacy in their own right. So, when the Flu Game AJ12 went to auction, it raked up a whopping $1.38 million at Goldin.
4. Game-Worn Nike Air Ship – $1.47 million
According to Sotheby’s, this is the pair that Michael Jordan wore in his 5th NBA game! It’s actually the earliest pair that MJ wore in the NBA that exists today. The exact date on which MJ rocked the kicks is November 1, 1984. And nope, they’re not an Air Jordan 1! In other words, this pair puts the whole “Banned Js” story into perspective. These babies went for $1.47 million, and they’re definitely worth it!
3. Kanye West Grammy-Worn Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototype – $1.8 million
Every Kanye West fan out there remembers the iconic 2008 Grammy performance. But every sneakerhead will also remember that he wore a sample pair of Nike Air Yeezy 1. You see, Nike made the most epic sneaker reveal with a brand new sneaker design on Ye’s feet. Keep in mind that rumors had been flying for about a year that Kanye and Nike were up to something! Well, this pair resurfaced years later on Sotheby’s for an auction. And just like that, it became the most expensive sneakers ever in 2022 at $1.8 million. But that didn’t last because another Jordan stole the title!
2. Game-Worn Jordan 13 Bred – $2.2 million
1998 was the year when everything came to a beautiful end. During his last season with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan and the team went on to score their second three-peat! And during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, MJ wore a pair of the Jordan 13 Bred. That was his last time doing so before his second retirement. And thanks to The Last Dance documentary, these babies went for a whopping $2.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction!
1. Dynasty Collection – $8 million
We’re not gonna get into too much detail now because we covered this whole feat right here. Of course, news like that deserve our full attention, wouldn’t you say? But you should know that this is, as of 2024, a collection of the most expensive sneakers in auction! You see, $8 million is no walk in the park, which explains why the buyer chose to remain anonymous. Who knows, there might come a day when more expensive kicks will surface!
Beyond the Most Expensive Sneakers…
While we love talking about these sneakers, they’re things from the past. However, the sneaker industry is alive and well. Which means, there’s still a chance for you to own kicks that will hike in value like the ones we discussed. Now that you saw the high-end side of the reselling industry, it kinda makes you wanna join! Although you might not flip your pair for crazy numbers like that, having a side hustle is always a plus. So, all you have to do is buy sneakers for retail, right? Wrong.
Getting ahold of valuable sneakers is not as easy as it was before. But if you’re seriously considering joining the sneaker industry, you’ll need to get yourself a sneaker bot. An all-in-one bot like NSB3 will boost your success chances when exclusive sneakers drop. Or any hype kicks at that! And with our kickass Shopify and Nike SNKRS modules, our users are scoring kicks like there’s not tomorrow! So why not become one of them? You’re actually one click away from joining the ranks of our users. And when you do, make sure you know how to make the most out of your bot using this guide. Godspeed
