Big shoes to fill: Michael Jordan's sneakers fetch outrageous price – but can't catch Kanye

New York, New York - It's well known that basketball icon Michael Jordan has some big shoes to fill. But it's surprising that they've proven to be this big – especially in price!

Kanye West (l) still holds the record over Michael Jordan (r) for most expensive sneakers ever auctioned.
Kanye West (l) still holds the record over Michael Jordan (r) for most expensive sneakers ever auctioned.  © Collage: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire & NurPhoto (2)

A pair of NBA legend Michael Jordan's sneakers netted $1.47 million at a recent auction.

The buyer was Nick Fiorella, auction house Sotheby's announced Sunday. Fiorella is a well-known collector of sports trading cards worth millions.

The Nike Air Ship shoes he purchased were worn by Jordan in his first NBA season in 1984, according to the auction house. The red and white sneakers were previously owned by a Denver Nuggets Ball Boy who had received them as a gift.

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In April, a pair of sneakers worn by Kanye West at the 2008 Grammy Awards were sold for slightly more – a whopping $1.8 million dollars. It is the highest amount paid at auction for a pair of sneakers to date, according to Sotheby's.

The black leather sneakers were designed exclusively for Kanye's performance at the awards show and established the start of his own shoe line.

Yeezy began in 2015, and one pair of the coveted sneakers can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Forbes reported the Yeezy fashion brand racked up $1.7 billion in sales in 2020 alone, and has contributed to a large part of the rapper's billion-dollar net worth.

Unusual sneakers have repeatedly made headlines for fetching high prices at auctions recently.

Last year, a pair of white sneakers handmade by a co-founder of Nike some 50 years ago sold for $162,500.

Another pair of Jordan's sneakers sold for $560,000 last year as well.

Still, no kicks have been able to kick Kanye's Yeezys to the curb just yet!

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire & NurPhoto (2)

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