Stunning Sneakers
It’s clear to see that people love sneakers, from hundreds lining up for new shoe drops and plenty buying into auctions. Many of the most expensive sneakers around mark important collaborations or moments in history, helping to raise that price tag. With that in mind, would you ever buy any of these shoes? And which do you think is most worth the money?
1. Fragment x Air Jordan
You’ve probably heard of Air Jordan, but if you’re not familiar with Fragment, it’s a popular Japanese brand. The creator of the brand, Hiroshi Fujiwara, did a collab with Nike and created iconic shoes that were priced at $165 to start. However, almost immediately after their debut, the market price soared to $9,990.
2. The Dynasty Collection
This collection was made up of 8 impressive sneakers with choice colors being red, black, and white. They were all worn by Michael Jordan during the NBA playoffs, which made them so lucrative. They were sold at auction and went for a whopping $8 million.
3. Travis Scott x PlayStation x Dunk Low
There’s no price tag attached to these shoes because of the fact that everyone who received one had to sign a clause promising not to sell them. They were the product of a collaboration between the artist and the PlayStation 5 gaming system. The shoes were raffled off to fans during a launch campaign, and only 5 pairs were available to begin with.
4. Achilles Game
Of course, Michael Jordan isn’t the only one whose name sells shoes. In 2013, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon during a game but still achieved 32 points over the Golden State Warriors. The very purple and gold shoes he wore that night were auctioned in 2025 at $600,000.
5. Off-White x Air Force 1 ComplexCon Exclusive
Isn’t it funny when shoe retailers price their shoes at an achievable $150 only for the market to swoop in and raise the costs? Well, that’s exactly what happened to this shoe, which now costs $10,000 for a new pair. They were the product of a collaboration between Virgil Abloh’s Off-White and Nike and were made for the 35th anniversary of the Nike Air Force 1 shoe.
6. Air Jordan 1 Chicago
There were a few things that made this shoe unique, but whether it was worth the $675,000 price tag is for you to decide. First of all, the sole was inspired by the Nike Dunk, giving it an interesting design. They were also worn and signed by Michael Jordan and were made to match the shoes he wore in his 1986 game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
7. The Last Dance
Everyone knows Air Jordans can get quite expensive, but $2.2 million is a ridiculous amount of money. What made these shoes so special is the fact that Michael Jordan wore them for an iconic final game in 1998. Despite the price tag, some collector out there is probably very happy.
8. Nike Moon Shoe
This shoe came to fruition in Nike’s early days and was built in 1972 with performance in mind. The soles of the shoes left astronaut-like footprints, which earned it its name. The prototypes were used in field Olympic trials, and 45 years later, the shoes would be auctioned off for $437,500.
9. Air Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard
These shoes borrowed a lot of inspiration from the Chicago color scheme but have their own history. They pay homage to the time Michael Jordan shattered a backboard in 1985 during a dunk. As such, they match the shoes he wore at the time and go for an impressive $615,000.
10. Nike SB Dunk Low Paris Bernard Buffet
Even today, there are plenty of ridiculously expensive shoes available if you have a few grands to throw away. In fact, only 200 pairs of the Paris Bernard Buffet were ever made, and they feature a unique canvas overlay from the renowned French painter. Is that enough to justify their $90,000 retail price?
11. Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1
Nike certainly knows how to play the collaboration game, and this shoe certainly marked an important moment. To pay homage to Virgil Abloh, 200 pairs of these sneakers were auctioned in 2022. They include the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram alongside the Damier check and went for as much as $352,800.
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash
12. Solid Gold Air Jordan 10
The question on everyone’s mind must be if these shoes were actually made of solid gold. Well, they certainly do use 24-karat gold in the making, and each shoe weighs about 100 pounds. With these factors in mind, the shoes sell for $2 million.
13. Air Jordan 12 Flu Game
Another million-dollar shoe to marvel at $1.38 million to be specific. This shoe was worn during another impressive moment in Michael Jordan’s career, specifically the day he was battling food poisoning during a game but still scored 38 points. The shoes were also signed, and a pair was gifted to Preston Truman.
14. Apple Inc. Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers
If you’re a big fan of Apple products, does that mean you’ll buy the shoes too? These sneakers are quite rare and were actually made for Apple employees at the beginning. They were given away during a 1990s National Sales Conference and definitely feel retro and nostalgic. As such, they now sell for $50,000.
15. Nike Air Yeezy Samples
Kanye may be a polarizing figure, but his Yeezy shoes certainly caught a pretty penny. These shoes were a prototype that Kanye actually wore during the 2008 Grammys. As such, they sold in 2021 for an impressive $1.8 million.
16. Nike Air Force 1 Low Lux Alligator
You’d expect a shoe made from alligator skin to be pricier than $25,000, but maybe it’s a good thing that it’s not. Notably, you actually do get a well-crafted briefcase with this shoe. It has everything from a leather lining and midsole, and there’s even a rumored customization with the name USHER embroidered inside the back heel.
17. MJ’s Secret Stuff Air Jordan
This collab between Michael Jordan and Air Jordan paid homage to the movie Space Jam. The “secret stuff” was in reference to the stuff he’d pretend to use to boost his skill in the film. As such, they’re quite rare and were worn by Michael Jordan during his post-baseball return to the NBA. With that in mind, it’s no wonder they sold for $176,000.
18. Nike Air Ship
Another Nike shoe that certainly impressed fans was the Air Ship. Like most of these shoes, they’ve got equal parts legacy and history. Specifically, they were worn by Michael Jordan in 1984 during his fifth-ever NBA game. As such, they sold in 2021 for $1.4 million.
19. Air Jordan 1 Player Samples
Air Jordans have truly been through a lot, with the first factory-run samples dating to 1985. They’re a hard shoe to find, and when they were auctioned off, they sold for an impressive $80,000. While not a game-worn shoe, they’re certainly a unique marker of history nonetheless.
Steve Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com on Wikimedia
20. Nike MAG Back to the Future
These do look a bit weird, and their appearance was inspired by the 1989 film Back to the Future II. It’s quite a rare shoe that features “power laces,” and only 1,500 pairs were released in 2011 in partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. As such, you can snatch one of these for the high price of $25,000.
