Nike is unquestionably one of the most well-known brands because of its creative designs, high-quality products, and marketing initiatives.
Thus, some celebrities have paid up to $25 million to buy one of the most expensive Nike shoes.
Nike is one of the most well-known sneakers in the world. Experts anticipate its continued dominance of the sports footwear business, which accounts for 27.4% of the worldwide market.
One of the most recognized names in sportswear, Nike, is not cheap. Compared to the competitors, they are rather expensive.
The most expensive Nike shoes ever sold had price tags as high as $2 million.
Below is a list of the most expensive Nike shoes.
1. 2005 Nike Dunk SB Low Staple NYC Pigeon
These $300 shoes, inspired by New York City pigeons and made available to the general public in 2005, created quite a stir, to the extent that an NY Post article titled “Sneaker Frenzy” was written about them.
Indeed, the pigeon shoes made sneakers popular among professional and stylish collectors. The pigeon inspired strong feelings in many.
As a fresh batch was scheduled to arrive, people slept outside the shops and purchased many pairs to sell at a profit.
A collector wanted a pair so desperately that when someone eventually decided to sell them on eBay, they continued to bid until everyone else gave up at $38,000.
2. Nike Air Jordan 1 Bred (1985)
One of the most expensive Nike shoes is the Nike Air Jordan 1. It is an integral part of the Jordan legacy, also known as Chicago.
The AJ1 was designed by Peter Moore in 1984 and debuted in 1985.
The most recognizable Jordan model ever, these sneakers feature the famous Chicago color.
This sneaker highlighted MJ’s signature line when he signed a contract with the Swoosh brand.
It also marked the first time a brand had adopted a player’s partnership and signature line.
David Falk, MJ’s agent, coined the name “Air Jordan” for the sneakers.
Every sneakerhead and Michael Jackson fan wanted a pair of the shoes since they were so well-liked, which sparked the creation of the now-famous AJ brand.
The brand has established an unrivaled reputation while on AJ 37. The inside of this shoe said “850204 TYPS,” which indicated that the shoes were replicated between February and April of 1985.
The term “Tong Yang Player Sample” (TYPS) denotes that the shoes were first created as test-run footwear. The pair brought in $560,000 at Sotheby’s auction.
3. 2015 Eminem Carhartt Air Jordan 4
Nike conducted another “friends and family” gifting in 2015. This time, the rapper Eminem was involved. On this occasion, work gear from Carhartt was also included.
The result was a pair of black sneakers with leather inside and silver eyelets.
The heel was Eminem’s trademark backward E and a hockey mask. Yet, being his generous guy, Marshall Mathers desired more. He requested the creation of 10 pairs for a charity auction.
Nike gladly accepted, and each pair quickly sold for $30,000. The Michigan State University School of Music received the proceeds.
4. Drake OVO x Nike Air Jordan 12
Musician Drake and Nike’s Jordan brand worked together to create a pair of Air Jordan 10s.
Although a Jordan and Drake collaboration may be frequent, this shoe was more than simply a collab since Matthew Senna made it out of pure gold.
The Swoosh label, which owns all Jordans, also supervised the production of this pair.
The specially designed sneakers for Drake were said to weigh almost 100 pounds.
The unique shoes cost around $2 million to produce and included features seen in the original AJ10.
The soles of the shoes are marked with “OVO” writing, and the leather-like structure of the top was properly captured.
The heel was embellished with the recognizable Jumpman logo, and the lacing was replicated.
On July 18, 2006, the artist himself revealed the sneakers. This is one of the most expensive Nike shoes.
5. Nike Waffle Racing Flat Moon Shoe
One of the most expensive Nike shoes is the Nike Moon shoe. Founder Bill Bowerman created it, and a few pairs are still available.
His wife’s waffle iron inspired Bowerman to design the shoe and its recognizable waffle sole traction pattern.
He put the rubber onto the waffle iron, generating a waffle sole. The prototype was a hit because it provided more traction and cushioning than competing running shoes.
The waffle pattern the Moon Shoe left in the ground, which resembled the footprints made by astronauts on the moon in 1969, gave rise to its name. Geoff Hollister, one of the first employees of the Swoosh brand, built it.
Due to a lack of technology, the waffle outsole was constructed from two parts. Hand-cut marks were used to form the soles.
The swooshes were stitched on the uppers in black, while the uppers were made of white nylon material.
Just 12 pieces of the pair, constructed for Olympic runners during the 1972 trials, were produced then.
On July 23, 2019, Sotheby’s sold the pair at auction for the incredible sum of $437,500, and collector Miles Spencer Nadal purchased it.
6. 1986 Air Jordan 2 OG
A pair of these simple red, white, and worn-out sneakers came up for auction in 2014 for a hefty $31,000 despite having an initial cost of $100. Their origins story served as a strong nod to the inspiration behind Nike.
Michael Jordan sustained an ankle injury during the 1985 season. His basketball shoes do not provide enough support on the floor.
So, Nike started working right away. This was still the age when the general people could purchase celebrity-inspired clothing.
Everything was well until the Jordan 2 mold was misplaced and damaged.
After that defeat, they went from being useful sneakers to instant collectors.
7. 2017 Air Jordan 11 “Jeter”
These Nike are not your typical running shoes. They rank among the most expensive Nike shoes for their efficiency, assistance, and butter-done blue velvet shell.
Just five pairs of shoes were produced to honor Derek Jeter’s retirement.
He was one of the most legendary athletes to ever play at Yankee Stadium. On the heel is a number 2 for Derek Jeter.
Nike eventually released a similar batch, but one of the first five sold for $40,000 at auction.
8. The Nike Air Ship 1984
The Nike Air Ship shoes significantly influenced the design’s legacy before the original Air Jordan 1 debuted.
Michael Jordan wore the Air Ship shoes for his sixth game with the Chicago Bulls in the first campaign, and they became recognizable both on and off the court.
The shoes arrived in a unique red and white color theme. Once Michael Jordan wore the Air Ship for the first time in 1984, the phrase “Air Jordan” was created.
While developing the AJ1, the Swoosh brand also developed the Air Ships silhouette, which was produced in a very small quantity and included “Nike Air” printed on the heel.
The Air Ship was Michael Jordan’s first swoosh sneaker as an NBA player, created by Bruce Kilgore in 1984.
During the Bulls vs. Bulls game on November 1, 1984, “TJ,” alias Denver Nuggets Ballboy Lewis, received the pair as a present.
On October 24, 2021, the pair was sold at auction at Sotheby’s for $1.47 million.
9. Kanye West x Nike Air Yeezy 1
On February 10, 2008, at the 50th annual Grammy Awards event, Kanye West presented a performance of Stronger and Hey Mama, which marked the official launch of these shoes.
Throughout his performance, he wore a pair of shoes that no one could place but that everyone highly sought. The Nike logo on the shoes served as the sole indicator.
This was the first sneaker the Swoosh brand and Ye’s Yeezy produced together.
The Nike Yeezy empire was launched when the sneakers sent sneakerheads into a frenzy and lit up the community.
This partnership later developed into a foundation of contemporary sneaker culture.
Subsequently, the relationship between Nike and Yeezy was broken, and in 2013, Yeezy maintained its history with Adidas.
However, the Nike x Air Yeezy 1 and Air Yeezy 2 are still among the sneakers that collectors and enthusiasts are most excited about.
The shoes, which were first auctioned at Sotheby’s to raise money for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, raised $1.8 million.
The Air Yeezy 1 was built at the Innovation Kitchen, a Nike facility in Portland, Oregon.
The heel overlay featured a tonal swoosh, while the shoe uppers were made of supple black leather with perforated details.
To enhance the shoe, forefoot strap detailing was added, and a bright pink “Y” medallion with the brand’s logo can be seen on the lace locks.
The shoes, among the most expensive Nike shoes, were auctioned at Sotheby’s on April 21, 2022.
