Designer shoes, like sports memorabilia, are quickly becoming valuable collectibles. Most of them are limited edition versions, that’s why a single pair can be sold at an extravagant price. Sneakers are no longer exclusively for athletics; they are now becoming a trend in casual fashion.
You might be surprised to learn that some sneakers have been offered at ridiculous prices. In this article, we've compiled a list of the 30+ most expensive pairs ever sold. Keep reading to find out which shoes your favorite players might have worn!
The Nike Air Foamposite One was inspired by an actual beetle and was first developed in 1997. This shoe was remarkable at the time since it was made of liquidized foam rather than traditional materials like rubber and leather. New colors are coming out on the market today.
The Vlone Air Force 1 was a limited edition Nike sneaker, with only 20 pairs produced. It has gained popularity since it is a sneaker collaboration between A$AP Rocky and A$AP Bari's clothing business VLONE and Nike.
The Nike Yeezy 2 Red October was first dropped in 2014 and was Kanye’s last collaboration with Nike. This exclusive classic shoe has Kanye-added features. He debuted it on 'Saturday Night Live' during a live performance.
One of the most luxurious collaborations was Chanel and Pharrell’s partnership with Adidas. This uniquely designed sneaker was released in 2017, with only 500 pairs available on the market.
The Nike SB Dunk Low London was released in the early 2000s during the White Dunk art exhibition. The embroidery of the 200-mile-long River Thames on the side heels was the sneaker's most notable feature. It also features a contrasting gray suede upper.
The Air Jordan 4 Undefeated was a collaboration between UNDFT and Air Jordan. This shoe features a military design inspired by the MA-1 Flight jacket. Only 72 pairs were made, making it one of the most valuable sneakers of all time.
The Nike Dunk High LE (WU-TANG) has a musical history behind it. This black and yellow sneaker was inspired by Wu-tang, a group of hardcore rappers, in 1999. There were only 36 pairs released, which are exclusive for family and friends.
The Air Jordan 10 OVO is a special shoe collaboration released in 2015 by Jordan Brand and Drake's clothing company 'October's Very Own.' This exclusive shoe was only distributed to Drake and his team, along with two lucky fans.
The Air Jordan 1 is yet another unique creation from Nike. It gained popularity when Michael Jordan wore them during a 1985 NBA All-star game. The Chicago Bulls team colors are honored by this original Air Jordan 1 High 'Chicago' 1985 model.
In the early 2000s, the Air Jordan VII 'Kobe Bryant' PE was created exclusively for basketball legend Kobe Bryant. This shoe was inspired by the Los Angeles Lakers, as evidenced by its all-black body with purple and yellow accents.
The DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 3 'Grateful' is a collaboration between DJ Khaled and Nike to celebrate the release of DJ Khaled's 2017 album 'Grateful.' The iconic sneaker comes in a soft red shade with elephant print hints on the heel.
The Macklemore x Air Jordan 6 is a limited-edition sneaker designed specifically for rapper Macklemore in 2014. This shoe has a Macklemore's shark emblem on the heels and frosty translucent soles. Colors come in “Cactus” Cadet Green and “Clay” Light Redwood.
This Eminem X Carhart Air Jordan 4 has an all-black upper with Eminem's reverse 'E' emblem. It was released in 2015 and is exclusively for the rapper's friends and family. There were only 10 pairs that were made available to the public.
In honor of the terrifying villain from the Nightmare on Elm Street movie, Nike created the Freddy Kruger Nike Dunk SB Low. The two-tone textile upper is covered in a striped sweater with Freddy's trademark, and the beige leather overlays appear stained with blood. It was released in 2017.
This Air Jordan 2 OG is regarded as one of Nike's rarest sneakers because the mold used to produce it mysteriously vanished or was lost. It was auctioned off for $31,000 on eBay.
As its name suggests, this Nike Dunk SB Low was inspired by the colors of a pigeon. It was released in 2005 and was designed by Jeff Staple. It was one of Nike's most popular designs, with only 150 pairs made available to the public.
The Air Jordan 11 'Jeter' was introduced in 2017 to honor the retirement of one of the greatest New York Yankees of all time, Derek Jeter. There were just five pairs available, and it was regarded as one of the best jordans of all time.
The Nike Dunk SB Low Yellow Lobster was produced in 2009 but was never available for purchase, making it one of the rarest Nike releases. The upper of this special shoe is mustard yellow, with the distinctive lobster inside plaid.
This Nike Air Force 1 is studded with 11-carat champagne diamonds and gold embellishments, making it one of the most luxurious women's sneakers. It was dedicated to Atlanta rapper Big Boi and American hip-hop group OutKast.
The Nike Dunk SB Low Paris is a limited-edition sneaker that has been painted with cool and vibrant artwork. Bernard Buffet, a late French expressionist artist, created this wonderful artwork. With only 150 pairs available, it is certainly one of the rarest shoes.
This rare and cool sneaker by Nike was released in 2004. The FLOM, which stands for 'for love or money,' has a pattern that shows various denominations of printed money. There were just 24 pairs made, and only three were made available to the market.
This Nike Air Mag first appeared in 'Back to the Future II,' and it has since become one of the most desirable sneakers of all time. Only 89 pairs were made available to the public when it was released in 2016. It is popular for its grey and blue tones.
This elegant Air Jordan 12 OVO will definitely turn heads. It is crafted from fine white leather, a translucent sole, and gold accents, making it one of the most luxurious sneakers ever. It was a special shoe collaboration between Drake and Jordan Brand.
This signed Air Jordan 12 (Flu Game) is a sought-after shoe because Jordan wore it during the 1997 NBA Finals. It was released in 2016 to celebrate Jordan's legendary game performance. It is made with black tumbled leather and a varsity red outsole.
The Buscemi 100mm Diamond is undeniably one of the world's most luxurious tennis shoes. This bright white sneaker features 11.5 carats of diamonds encrusted in 18-karat gold, making it one of the most extravagant Buscemi releases.
This Converse Fastbreak was one of the most valuable sneakers in the world. Jordan wore these Fastbreak Highs during North Carolina's 1982 championship season. It was signed by Michael Jordan and written '1982 NCAA Championship.'
Jordan himself designed this exclusive pair of sneakers, with just 300 pairs made available to the public. It was produced to celebrate Charlotte's hosting of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Its most dominant feature is the star-shaped silver NBA All-Star hang tag.
This Air Jordan Retro 'Kobe Pack' is the fourth most expensive shoe of all time and was produced as an honor to Kobe Bryant. The sneaker features home-white leather, a signature elephant design, and gold and purple Lakers-inspired accents on the heel.
Michael Jordan's red-and-white Nike Air Ship was the first pair of sneakers he ever wore during his career, which makes it incredibly valuable. It was purchased for a staggering $1.47 million by collector Nick Fiorella.
This Nike Air Yeezy 1 ‘Prototype’ is a special collaboration between Nike and rapper Kanye West. West wore it on the Grammy stage in 2008 while performing his smash track 'Stronger.' It was sold for $1.8 million at a private sale at Sotheby’s.
This solid gold Nike shoe weighs 100 pounds and is the most expensive sneaker in the world! It is made of genuine 24-karat gold, which speaks about its value. It was created specifically for Drake in 2016 and has subsequently become the most expensive sneaker of all time.
Sneakers are undeniably one of the most popular shoes due to the style and comfort they provide. Some of their prices can become extremely valuable, particularly if they are from rare collaborations or game-worn basketball shoes.
The sneakers featured here are limited edition, so if you're planning to buy one, make sure you've scoured the internet for reliable stores.