Nike shoes are wildly popular. The company started out as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, but it rebranded and released the first Nike brand shoe by the early ‘70s. Today, Nike is by far the most popular shoe brand in the whole world.
Throughout its reign over the sports shoe market, Nike has been part of several major cultural moments. From Michael Jordan’s “flu game” to the Back to the Future franchise, Nike shoes are a big part of pop culture and sports history alike.
Nike shoes can be expensive, but they’re usually cheap compared to higher-end brands like Gucci or Balenciaga. Still, some Nike shoes can sell for thousands of dollars. These pricey sneakers are usually rare or have an interesting backstory. Learn more about the world of expensive Nike shoes with this top 10 list!
10. Nike Air Jordan IV Retro Eminem ‘ENCORE’
Shoe Design Year: 2005
Unique Feature: Colorway design in collaboration with Eminem
Interesting Fact: These shoes are accompanied by a card signed by Eminem
photo source: sothebys.com
In 2005, Eminem collaborated with Nike on a pair of Air Jordans known as ENCORE. The shoes feature a colorway designed in collaboration with Eminem himself — a blue, red, and black design. The shoes were released to celebrate and promote Eminem’s 2004 album, also titled ENCORE.
Years later, one of the first Air Jordan ENCORE pairs was sold at an auction held by Sotheby’s. The auction house says the shoes came with a card signed by Eminem, authenticating the unique piece of Nike history. However, Sotheby’s doesn’t say whether or not the shoes were actually worn by Eminem. Sneaker fans didn’t seem to mind the ambiguity though — the shoes sold for an impressive $44,100.
Did you know?
According to Sotheby’s, Nike and Eminem gave about 50 ENCORE pairs to friends and family. It’s unclear if these shoes were given away before the design was broadly released to the public.
9. Nike Air Force 1 ‘Entourage x Undefeated x Fukijama Gold’
Shoe Design Year: 2009
Unique Feature: Design based on a fictional artist
Interesting Fact: These shoes were made in commemoration of the TV show Entourage
photo source: sothebys.com
Up next is a pretty unique pair of Nikes. The shoes were made to commemorate the TV show Entourage in 2009 — but the really interesting part is that unique design. The look was based on the work of a fictional artist named Fukijama. In Entourage, Fukijama designs a pair of Nikes which Salvatore “Turtle” Assante spends a whole episode searching for. Assante, played by Jerry Ferrara, eventually meets Fukijama and finally gets the shoes.
Interestingly, Nike actually made the Fukijama shoes featured in the show. These aren’t those shoes, but they are a rare replica made to celebrate the unique design. Sotheby’s sold the commemorative sneakers in 2021 for a whopping $88,200 — making these the ninth-most expensive Nike shoes ever sold.
Did you know?
These shoes are size nine.
8. Marty McFly’s Nikes
Shoe Design Year: 1989
Unique Feature: LED lights in the heel
Interesting Fact: These Nikes sold on eBay
photo source: bbc.com
In the second Back to the Future film, Marty McFly (played by Michael J Fox) travels to the year 2015 and gets a futuristic pair of Nikes featuring “self-tightening straps.” The shoes were part of a Nike employee’s private shoe collection, but they were given to the filmmakers and used in the movie.
In reality, the shoes weren’t self-tightening — but the futuristic design idea got pretty popular.
A few years after Back to the Future Part II was released, Michael J Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s — a brain disorder. With the popularity of Back to the Future, the shoes worn by Fox were sold on eBay to benefit Parkinson’s research.
Nike also made 1,500 replica pairs to sell for charity. Later, in 2013, Nike patented a real “automatic lacing system.” So far just 89 pairs of these unique shoes have been made, with all proceeds going towards Parkinson’s research.
Did you know?
Parkinson’s affects about 5 million people across the globe.
7. Drake’s Custom Sneakers
Shoe Design Year: Unreported
Unique Feature: OVO logo on the insole
Interesting Fact: The shoes were given to a fan by Drake
photo source: businessinsider.com
Would you spend a hundred grand on sneakers? It turns out some Drake fans would.
These shoes were given to a fan by Drake after the rapper performed at a Raptors game. The shoes, a collaboration between Nike’s Air Jordan and Drake’s OVO, were later sold on eBay for a whopping $100,000 (plus 40 bucks in shipping fees).
Reportedly, Drake said the shoes “definitely” would not fit the fan, but he hoped they’d “give them to somebody or keep them as a keepsake.”
Did you know?
Drake and Air Jordan widely released these shoes to the public around 2015.
6. Michael Jordan’s Flu Game Air Jordans
Shoe Design Year: 1997
Unique Feature: Signed by Michael Jordan
Interesting Fact: These shoes retailed for about $135 when they were first released
photo source: si.com
In 1997, legendary basketball player Michael Jordan played an impressive game while very sick. The game went on to be called Jordan’s “Flu Game,” although many believe Jordan was suffering from food poisoning or some other illness.
After the Flu Game, Jordan signed his shoes and gave them to a ball boy. Years later, the shoes were sold at auction and earned more than $104,000. Interestingly, the design sold for just $135 when it was introduced in 1997.
Did you know?
The black and red colorway featured on these shoes matches the colors of the Chicago Bulls, Jordan’s team.
5. Michael Jordan’s Space Jam Nikes
Shoe Design Year: 1996
Unique Feature: Signed by MJ
Interesting Fact: These shoes are size 13
photo source: sneakerbardetroit.com
Up next is another pair of shoes worn by none other than Michael Jordan. The signed sneakers were specially made for the athlete to be worn during his performance in the 1996 film Space Jam. Jordan ended up wearing a different pair of shoes while filming, but these sneakers hold a lot of collectible value nonetheless — especially since the basketball player signed one of them.
Like other shoes, Jordan’s star power helped these sneakers demand a hefty price tag. The pair sold for more than $176,000 in 2021, making them the fifth-most expensive Nikes shoes ever sold.
Did you know?
Before the auction, estimates said these shoes would sell for at least $150,000.
4. Nike Moon Shoes
Shoe Design Year: 1972
Unique Feature: Hand-made design
Interesting Fact: There are less than 12 Moon Shoes in existence
photo source: sothebys.com
Coming in at number four are Nike’s “Moon Shoes.” The shoes were made by hand in the early 1970s for runners during the Olympic Trials. Experts say about 12 pairs were created but fewer than half have survived the test of time.
Decades after these shoes were made, Sotheby’s auction house sold a rare pair for more than $430,000. According to the auction house, the wildly expensive running shoes represent “one of the most significant artifacts in the history of [Nike].”
Did you know?
These shoes are sometimes called “waffle racing flats” because of the traction pattern found on the outsole. This pattern helps runners avoid slipping. The shoes got their unofficial name, “Moon Shoes,” because the grip pattern looks like the footprints left on the moon by astronauts in 1969.
3. Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 1s
Shoe Design Year: 1985
Unique Feature: Autographed by Michael Jordan
Interesting Fact: These shoes are two different sizes
photo source: cnbc.com
Heading into the top three we’ve got another pair of Michael Jordan’s shoes. This time it’s the classic Air Jordan 1s, a 1985 design that paved the way for Jordan’s crazy-successful Nike partnership and billionaire status.
Like other shoes owned by Jordan, this pair of Nikes was signed by the iconic athlete.
Interestingly, these shoes are two different sizes. The left is size 13 while the right is size 13.5. Jordan often mismatched shoe sizes during his career.
Did you know?
Michael Jordan’s initial contract with Nike earned him a whopping $2.5 million. Today, Jordan is worth about $1.6 billion.
2. Kanye’s Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes
Shoe Design Year: 2008
Unique Feature: N/A
Interesting Fact: Kanye West wore these shoes during the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
photo source: hypebeast.com
At number two are a pair of Nike Air Yeezy prototypes worn by Kanye West during his performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The groundbreaking shoes predated Kanye’s iconic collaboration with Adidas and led to the artist’s massive success in the sneaker industry.
In 2021, the prototypes sold at a Sotheby’s auction for nearly two million dollars — way more than their estimated million-dollar value. Reports say the shoes were purchased by RARES, a “sneaker investment company.” With such a unique backstory, these shoes are sure to gain even more value over time.
Did you know?
Kanye collaborated with Adidas after leaving his partnership with Nike in 2013.
1. Drake’s Gold Sneakers
Shoe Design Year: 2016
Unique Feature: Solid gold design
Interesting Fact: These are one-of-a-kind shoes
photo source: gq.com
Drake’s gold sneakers are the most expensive Nike shoes ever sold.
Solid gold shoes? Sure, why not. These crazy-expensive sneakers are made of 24-karat gold and are valued at $2 million. Drake purchased the one-of-a-kind custom shoes in 2016, adding them to his large collection of rare and unique sneakers.
According to GQ, Drake commissioned artist Matthew Senna to craft these golden kicks. Other creations by Senna include shoes made of concrete and resin as well as an outsole made of cast resin.
Did you know?
Drake has commissioned artists a few times during his career. Around 2021, the rapper asked controversial artist Damien Hirst to design the cover of his album Certified Lover Boy.
