WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: National Basketball Association Hall of Fame member and legendary athlete Michael Jordan smiles before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Six of his sneakers recently sold for a whopping $8 million, making Michael Jordan a record-breaker once again.
The former basketball star wore these sneakers, which are part of “The Dynasty Collection,” during his championship games between 1991 and 1998, according to the New York Daily News.
These shoes quite literally carry the energy, sweat, and determination of Jordan who wore them during crucial moments of his career.
Each pair carries the weight of a championship victory, making them highly coveted among sneaker collectors.
Sotheby, the auction house that sold the footwear, announced that a single buyer acquired all six pairs of Jordan’s NBA Finals shoes for $8,032,800.
The buyer’s identity, however, remains a mystery, adding an air of intrigue to the transaction.
But, let’s be honest, we all want to know who’s dropping millions on these sneakers, no?
While we may never find out who the buyer of these collectibles is, the price this person was willing to pay shows Jordan’s lasting impact on the world of sports.
“Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT. The Dynasty Collection undeniably ranks among the most significant compilations of sports memorabilia in history,” Brahm Wachter, Head of Modern Collectables, said in a statement, per ESPN. “(It is) a truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history, the sale of these six championship-clinching sneakers will likely never be replicated.”
“The Dynasty Collection” of Jordan’s shoes has since become the second-highest-priced sports memorabilia associated with the 60-year-old.
The most that Jordan has ever been paid for his memorabilia was $10.1 million for a jersey he wore during Game 1 of the 1998 ‘Last Dance’ finals.
Back in 2020, the release of his documentary series, ‘The Last Dance,’ brought Jordan’s career and the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty to the forefront again.
The 10-part series gave an intimate look at Jordan’s life, his pursuit of excellence, and the challenges he faced both on and off the court.
It also shed light on the significance of the games where he wore the sneakers now known as the Dynasty Collection.
Jordan has paved a lane for himself in business and sports that nobody has been able to replicate.
According to investor and sports writer Joe Pompliano, the Jordan Brand crossed the $5 billion mark in annual revenue for the first time in 2022.
To put things into perspective, Jordan made over $150 million from Nike in 2022 alone, nearly doubling his career NBA earnings.
But by December 2023, those numbers had skyrocketed yet again, with Jordan now making $330 million annually.
