According to Sotheby’s, a pair of Michael Jordan’s game-worn shoes from 1985 sold today for 3.5 timea more than the estimated auction price, breaking the world auction record for sneakers.
At a press release from Sotheby’s, we know that, ten bidders spanned six countries across four continents, competed for the basketball legend’s autographed Nike Air Jordan 1 shoes before the online auction closed at $560,000,
At the press release from Sotheby’s we learn that:
“Following a bidding war which drove the value up by US $300,000 within the final twenty minutes of the sale, the pair achieved more than 3.5x their $150,000 high estimate,”
The sale breaks the world auction record for a pair of sneakers, set last year by Sotheby’s auction of the Nike “Moon Shoe” for $437,500. The waffle-soled running shoes, one of 12 pairs ever made, were designed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman for the 1972 Olympic Trials.
The Nike Air Jordan 1s were made exclusively for Jordan, and featured red laces instead of black and white.
“Produced between February to April 1985, Jordan wore the present pair of Air Jordan 1s during an early, pivotal point of his career and thus catapulted the sneaker’s popularity. Wearing mismatched shoes most of his career, the pair is in a size 13 (left shoe) and a 13.5 (right shoe).”
The right shoe features Jordan’s signature.
