If you're a sneaker collector or “sneakerhead,” then you know that Air Jordans are the Holy Grail of sneakers. And if you're into sneakers to the point where you're shelling out hundreds (or sometimes even thousands) of dollars for a pair, then you'll definitely want to check out this list of the 20 most expensive Air Jordans ever made. From shoes worn by the GOAT Michael Jordan himself, to the unwearable Solid Gold Nike Air Jordan collab, these shoes are sure to make your jaw drop! So, without further ado, here are the most expensive Air Jordans in history…
The 20 most expensive Air Jordans ever made:
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1. Solid Gold OVO x Air Jordans
Release Date: 2016
Selling Price: $2 million
The most expensive Jordans ever made are rapper Drake's custom-made Solid Gold OVO x Jordan Brand Jordan 10's. Drake commissioned these shoes in 2016 and reportedly paid $2.1 million for artist Matt Senna to create them.
Needless to say, since these kicks weigh in at over 100 pounds, they are more of an art piece than something the Canadian rapper can wear. Want a pair for yourself? Too bad. These are one-of-a-kind.
They are also the most expensive Nike shoe ever, beating out another famous rapper shoe collaboration with Nike.
If you're in the market for a new pair of Air Jordans, we have a list of The Best Websites to Buy Air Jordans Online. I don't think these will be listed, but it's worth a shot!
2. Michael Jordan Game Worn Air Jordan 1's
Release Date: 1985
Selling Price: $560,000
The most expensive Air Jordans ever sold at a public auction house is a pair of Michael Jordan's game-worn Air Jordan 1's that Michael Jordan himself signed. Sotheby's sold the record-setting pair of sneakers for $560,000.
This amount set the record for the most expensive pair of shoes that ever sold at an auction, beating the previous record-holder (a pair of Nikes from 1972) by over $100,000. This record has since been broken by a pair of Kanye West's Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes which sold for $1.8 million.
Sotheby's, operated by Vice President Brahm Wachter, has sold a number of the most expensive Air Jordans ever.
The Jordan 1s actually went for over three times the estimated selling price. The auction's final minutes saw the bids jump over $300,000, with offers coming in from four different continents. No one knows for sure who won the auction, but the record prices of shoes keep breaking new ground.
Surprisingly, these aren't the highest selling pair of game worn Michael Jordan shoes. That honor belongs to a pair of 1984 Nike Air Ships (not Air Jordan brand) that became the first shoes to ever break the $1 million mark at an auction.
3. Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game”
Release Date: 1997
Selling Price: $104,000
Until May 2020, the Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game” sneakers were the Jordans with the highest price tag. These sold at auction in 2013 for $104,000. The shoes were worn during Jordan's famous “flu game” – game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, where he led his team to victory, despite being violently ill.
Jordan gave the shoes to a ballboy, who put the shoes up for auction many years later with a starting bid of $5,000. Over the course of 15 bids, the price skyrocketed to almost 21 times their asking price.
The $104,000 selling price now puts them at the 3rd most expensive Air Jordans in the world.
4. Air Jordan 10 OVO Drake Collection
Release Date: 2014
Selling Price: $100,000
While you may not be able to own a pair of Drake's custom gold Jordan's, you stand a slightly better chance of getting your hands on a regular pair from the OVO collection. The shoes come in black and white, with the black being far more popular, and thus more expensive. While they're listed at $225, the shoes are also notoriously sold out.
The pair that went for $100,000 was given to an undisclosed lucky fan at the Toronto Raptors' Drake Night. These shoes were samples from Drake's collaboration with Nike and were only given to Drake and his inner circle. Both shoes were put up for auction, with the black pair netting $100,000. You can see the fate of the white pair farther down on this list.
5. Air Jordan Silver Shoe Autographed
Release Date: 1995
Selling Price: $60,000
The Air Jordan Silver Shoe – Autographed is special for many reasons, but not because they were worn by Jordan in a game. First, the shoes are rare. Only ten of them were ever made, making them extremely hard to find and very expensive. Second, the shoes were plated with handcrafted sterling silver. Third, the shoes that sold for $60,000 at auction were signed by Michael Jordan.
But what really makes the shoes special is the story of how Jordan got them. Jordan's wife gave him the shoes as a present for his 32nd birthday. In collectors' eyes, this makes them an important piece of sports history and really drives up the price.
6. Air Jordan 2 OG
Release Date: 1986
Selling Price: $31,000
Number six on our list is a bit of a mystery. This pair of Air Jordan 2 OGs went for $31,000 in an eBay auction, but most of the other shoes on this list there isn't anything apparently unique about them. The price tag on these shoes comes from the story behind their design.
According to the story, Jordan had a foot injury that was causing him issues with his game. Nike designers decided to change the design of the Air Jordan for him, to give him more support. The shoe underwent a complete redesign, complete with lizard skin and a loss of the Swoosh logo.
The shoes are so expensive because they're rare. The company lost the mold, and so only a few were made.
7. Air Jordan 4 Eminem X Carhartt
Release Date: 2015
Selling Price: $30,100
In 1015, Rapper Eminem, the clothing brand Carhartt, and Nike teamed up to create Air Jordans for charity. The collaboration resulted in a limited run of ten shoes. All were put up for auction on eBay, with all proceeds going toward Michigan State's Literacy Through Songwriting program.
Altogether, the shoes raised $227,552, with the highest bid going for $30,100 for a pair of size nine sneakers. Most of the shoes were at least in the $20,000 range.
8. Air Jordan 1 Black and Gold
Release Date: 1985
Selling Price: $25,000
There are a few things to make these Jordans unique. Released in 1985, they were one of the only pairs to be made in leather and patent leather at that. Combined with the metallic gold Swoosh, the shoes were striking.
But why are they so expensive? The company only made 12 pairs. They were also only released in Asia, making it much more difficult for shoe aficionados to get their hands on them. The most recent pair for sale went for $25,000.
9. Air Jordan 1 ASG
Release Date: 1985
Selling Price: $21,780
For some sneaker fans, it's not enough to own any old pair of Jordans. The true holy grail is own a pair worn by the great Michael Jordan himself. Not only did he play a game in them – he wore them during a 1985 NBA All-Star game. Jordan was a rookie that season and one of the few rookies ever to make it to the All-Star game.
While Michael Jordan didn't get a lot of play during the All-Star game due to his rookie status, the shoes still fetched a pretty penny. This autographed pair of Jordans eventually auctioned for $21,780.
Other notable Jordan All-Star game memorabilia pieces have also smashed records. An Upper Deck sports card with a swatch of Jordan's game worn All-Star game jersey sold for $2.1 Million in May of 2021. Even at $2.1 Million, it only ranked 11th on the most recent list of the Most Expensive Sports Cards Ever Sold. It is however, the most valuable pre-2000 basketball card.
10. Air Jordan X OVO
Release Date: 2014
Selling Price: $20,000
As mentioned above, Nike gave Drake and a select few of his inner circle exclusive samples from the OVO collection. Drake then gave two pairs, one black and one white, to fans at a Raptors' game. Both shoes were put up for auction on eBay, but for some reason, the white pair only got $20,000 – $80,000 less than their black counterparts.
11. Air Jordan 11 Retro Premium Derek Jeter
Release Date: 2017
Selling Price: $18,257
Why have one athlete on your Nikes when you can have two? The 11 Retro Premium Derek Jeter Jordans were designed to commemorate Jeter's retirement from the New York Yankees. Only five of these shoes were ever produced, making them incredibly rare and very expensive.
One pair sold for $18,257, and the shoes are now estimated to go for much higher at auction. If you're lucky enough to snag a pair, you will own a piece of both basketball and baseball history.
12. Air Jordan 4 Retro Undefeated 2018 Sample
Release Date: 2018
Selling Price: $15,750
Undefeated is a brand known for its refined sense of style, so it's only natural that they would be one of the first brands to collaborate with Air Jordan. While the collab goes back to 2005, samples started popping up in 2018.
The hunter green suede and bright orange laces are certainly a departure for the Jordans, but fans were pretty rabid. How did this particular pair net over $15,000? When the shoes were listed on eBay, the owner claimed they were made out of ballistic material.
13. Air Jordan 11 Blackout
Release Date: 2012
Selling Price: $11,267
The Air Jordan 11s came out in 2012 to much praise from the sneakerheads. The iconic design was particularly famous due to the all-black style and their sleek profile. It's no wonder that when a collector put a sample pair up for auction on eBay, they wound up going for $11,267.
14. Air Jordan 4 Retro Wahlburgers
Release Date: 2018
Selling Price: $11,000
If you're a fan of Jordans and the Wahlburgers restaurant chain, these green kicks are bound to catch your eye. The shoes were actually first seen on Mark Wahlberg at the grand opening of one of the restaurants.
After the popularity of the shoes, Wahlburg and Nike released 30 pairs of the shoes and raffled them off to help with California wildfires relief. The shoes now average at $11,000.
15. Air Jordan V SE
Release Date: 1990
Selling Price: $10,000
There's a lot of interest around the Air Jordan Vs, both the originals and the retros. Perhaps it's because of the shoes iconic shark-tooth style or the fact that legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield was inspired by World War II planes when coming up with the style.
While many retros have been made, if you are a true collector, you'll want a pair of the originals. If you want to snag a pair, they average at around $10,000.
16. Air Jordan 3 Retro Legends of Summer
Release Date: 2013
Selling Price: $9,250
In 2013, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z went on tour. Their concert was known as the Legends of Summer Tour. Throughout the tour, Nike supplied Timberlake with many of the shoes he wore in concert. Timberlake strutted across the stage all summer in pair after pair of Nikes created exclusively for him.
One such pair was an all-red colorway that is incredibly hard to find. These expensive shoes get snapped up almost the moment someone puts them up for sale, and it's easy to see why. The red color makes them stand out, and the fact that they were worn by the legendary Justin Timberlake makes them even more special.
17. Air Jordan 3 Retro DJ Khaled Father of Asahd
Release Date: 2018
Selling Price: $8,759
As shown in this list, Nike is known for collaborating and partnering with famous music artists. DJ Khaled is a fan of rare Jordans, so it's only natural that the brand would create a player exclusive just for him. This pair, the Father of Asahd, is actually the second pair Nike has released in his honor.
The shoes were created to celebrate the release of DJ Khaled's album, Father of Asahd. The shoes are a bright blue colorway and feature a hanging tag that states, “We the best.” The average resale is over $8,000.
18. Air Jordan 3 Retro DJ Khaled Grateful
Release Date: 2017
Selling Price: $7,733
As stated above, DJ Khaled is a fan of the Air Jordan line. With the release of his album, Grateful, Nike created a player exclusive pair of Air Jordan 3 Retros just for him. These feature the same print as the Father of Asahd, but the main colorway is a bright red instead of blue. The price tag on these has reached as high as $14,000 but has settled around $7,700.
19. Air Jordan 5 Retro Transformers
Release Date: 2017
Selling Price: $7,471
Mark Wahlberg shows up twice on this list, once for his restaurant and once for a film franchise. In 2017, with the release of Transformers: The Last Knight, Nike and Wahlberg worked together to create a show to celebrate the film's opening. The design is a unique take on the Air Jordan 5s.
The black shoes have red, blue, and gold details and a number 84, referencing the original cartoon. While Wahlberg originally wanted the Jordans to transform from one model to another, the result is still pretty impressive. These shoes were only given to a few cast and crew, making them extremely valuable.
20. Air Jordan 8 Retro Kentucky Madness PE
Release Date: 2017
Selling Price: $7,000
Sneaker-ing in at #20, Drake is on the list one last time. It seems that once he puts on a pair of Jordans, the price skyrockets. This pair was worn for the Kentucky Wildcats' Midnight Madness. While these shoes weren't the first or even the last time Nike came out with Jordans in college colors, these are the most expensive. It seems what Drake touches turns to gold, and these will set you back around $7,000 if you're lucky enough to find a pair.
Most of us can afford a pair of Air Jordans or two, but not many have the cash flow it takes to be a true sneakerhead and own a pair of Nike history. You may need to start your own business or take on a second job if you want to snag a pair of these kicks. These most expensive Air Jordans truly prove that people are willing to pay whatever it takes to get their hands on a piece of pop culture history.
Fun Facts About the Air Jordan Shoe Brand
- Michael Jordan actually didn't want to sign with Nike. He was an Adidas fan and wanted to sign a deal with them. Sadly for Adidas, their endorsement deal was nowhere near the $2.5 million-plus royalties deal that Nike offered.
- While Nike is known for its Swoosh logo, the Air Jordans' second iteration was their first shoe not to feature the Swoosh. The shoe sold well, and Nike cemented their popularity.
- Jordan famously wore different sizes on each foot. One foot was a size 13, while the other was a 13.5. If you are lucky enough to snag a pair of Jordans won by him, they'll be in two different sizes.
- Perhaps the most famous pair of Air Jordans, the XI, was designed by Tinker Hatfield, who got his inspiration in an unlikely place. Something about a lawnmower covered with a tarp drew his eye and inspired his design.
History of the Air Jordan Shoe
Michael Jordan wasn't the first famous basketball player to own his own signature shoe line, nor was he the first player to collaborate to create a shoe.
That title belongs to Chuck Taylor.
But when Michael Jordan burst onto the scene, he quickly became a global icon, even during his time playing college basketball at North Carolina.
Nike, always an innovator in the sports apparel industry, saw a star in Jordan and decided to create a new shoe just for him. The endorsement deal was for $2.5 million, a total that was unheard of for an unproven player.
To make the story even more legendary, Jordan broke NBA rules when wearing the new shoes, which went against their color regulations. Jordan wore the shoes anyway, and Nike ate the $5,000-per game fine, knowing the marketing was priceless. The shoe became synonymous with basketball and hip-hop style and is still a top sneaker today.
