Most Expensive Shoes in the World

The most expensive shoes in the world will have you walking to the bank for a loan.

Most Expensive Shoes in the World

Diamond-encrusted pumps. Super-exclusive kicks. And sneakers worn by the most legendary player in the NBA, Michael Jordan. What do all of them have in common? They are all examples of the most expensive shoes in the world.

Some people will pay a surprising amount of money for a pair of shoes, from millions of dollars for the most expensive heels to hundreds of thousands (or more) for the most expensive sneakers.

Here, you'll find the most expensive heels, sandals, dress shoes, sneakers, Nikes and all kinds of footwear for the ultra-wealthy. These shoes weren't made for walking. Get a display case instead.

31. Louis Vuitton Manhattan Richelieu

Value: $10,000

Bottom line: In 2010, Louis Vuitton offered these $10,000 wingtips — possibly the most expensive wingtips in the world — for its spring catalog.

Known as the Manhattan Richelieu, these luxurious shoes are made with supple alligator skin, have a hand-painted sole and a ruthenium-finish Louis Vuitton cube in the heel.

This is not an everyday shoe. More like an everyday shoe in the valuable collector's case.

30. Air Jordan 4 Wahlburgers

Value: $26,200

Bottom line: These lime green Air Jordan 4s were designed by Jordan Brand and feature a removable Wahlburgers logo on the tongue, just in case you don't want to advertise for Mark Wahlberg's burger shop when you're walking around town.

Although you probably don't want to walk around all that much. Only 30 pairs of Air Jordan 4 Wahlburgers were made, and they were given out at a raffle in 2019.

The lowest asking price on these is about $48,000 at StockX, although the last real sale was for $26,000.

29. Nike Dunk SB Low Yellow Lobster

Value: $42,634

Bottom line: These crunchy-looking yellow Nikes were only offered to the friends and family of Nike Skateboarding. Which is a damn shame, because these are beautiful. Just look at the rubber band that's "holding" the shoe and sole together.

Want 'em? You'll need to head on over to a site like StockX, where they last sold for nearly $43,000.

28. Nike Air Jordan IV Retro Eminem ‘ENCORE’

Value: $44,100

Bottom line: These 2005 Air Jordans were made in collaboration with Eminem to celebrate the release of his "ENCORE" album. It's said that only 50 pairs were made, and they were given away to friends and family.

These blue, red and black colorway sneakers came with a card signed by Slim Shady himself and sold for $44,100 at a Sotheby's auction in 2021.

27. Nike Air Yeezy 2 'Mismatch' Sample Signed by Kanye West

Value: $50,400

Bottom line: These Air Yeezy 2s never saw production.

The 2012 Air Yeezys dropped in red and platinum, and Kanye West wanted to release a third, "mismatch" colorway blending the two, but Nike rejected the design.

These samples are incredibly rare and are signed by Ye. They sold for $50,400 in 2021.

26. Michael Jordan's 1992-1993 Playoff Air Jordan VIIIs

Michael Jordan's Playoff Air Jordan VIIIs

Value: $63,000

Bottom line: Michael Jordan wore these black and red sneakers during the 1992-1993 NBA playoffs and Finals.

According to Sotheby's, Jordan wore these sneakers "throughout the 1992-1993 NBA season and postseason, switching from White to 'Playoff' Black for the last games in the first era of his career."

The sneakers, which were signed by Jordan in 2011, sold for $63,000 in 2020.

25. Nike 2016 MAG Back to the Future

Value: $76,925

Bottom line: These Nikes weren't made for walking, although hoverboarding might be alright.

Designed as a collector's item and made to be displayed (or very lightly worn), these futuristic Nikes were inspired by the self-lacing shoes seen in the classic "Back to the Future" movie starring Michael J. Fox. And, yes, they do self-lace — check 'em out. They light up, too.

There was a 2011 release which was limited to 1,510 pairs while the 2016 release only had 89 pairs. Both releases were made to raise money for Parkinson's research.

These shoes can be found on StockX, where they sell for up to $75,000.

24. Nike Air Force 1 Entourage x Undefeated x Fukijama Gold

Value: $88,200

Bottom line: These Air Force 1s were designed in 2009 in a collaboration with Nike and Undefeated to commemorate HBO's bro power-fantasy series "Entourage."

This was the entire subplot of an entire episode of the hit TV show, with Turtle desperately trying to fund these mysterious Fukijama kicks. Sneaker heads probably know that Fukijama was a made-up artist, but the shoes are real. And they're really expensive.

These sold for $88,200 in 2021.

23. Michael Jordan’s 'Flu Game' Air Jordan 12s

Value: $104,765

Bottom line: The "flu game" is one of the most memorable games in basketball history and one of the greatest NBA Finals of all time.

It was the night before Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, and Michael Jordan was looking for something to eat. His entourage could only find a single place open, and five guys delivered a pizza to Jordan's hotel room. His trainer said he didn't have a good feeling about it, but Jordan went ahead and ate up.

He spent the night puking and sick with food poisoning.

While Jordan was being evaluated by doctors, a young ball boy named Preston Truman asked him what he was doing with those shoes after the game. Earlier in the regular season, Truman had done Jordan a solid, making a mad dash to find some applesauce for the Bulls icon before a Utah Jazz game in November 1996.

About a year later, Jordan returned to town for the NBA Finals. He remembered the kid and gave Truman his now-infamous "flu game" sneaker. Truman locked them in a vault for years before auctioning them up on Grey Flannel Auctions in 2013, where they sold for $104,765.

22. BUSCEMI 100 MM Diamond Sneaker

Value: $132,000

Bottom line: Luxury streetwear designer BUSCHEMI dropped these glittering white-and-gold beauties when they opened a flagship location in Manhattan in 2016.

The sneaker has 11.5 carats worth of diamonds from jeweler Shayan and 18-carats worth of gold hardware.

21. Michael Jordan's 1984 Olympics Converse Sneakers

Value: $190,373

Bottom line: Michael Jordan wore these Converse kicks at the 1984 Olympic Finals and were the last pair the basketball icon wore in competition as an amateur.

Jordan was just 21 years old and scored an average of 17.1 points per game at the 1984 Olympics. Jordan signed both shoes, and they were given to an 11-year-old ball boy right after the gold medal final.

20. Michael Jordan's 1991 NBA Finals Game 4 Air Jordans

Value: $252,000

Bottom line: Game 4 of the 1991 NBA Finals was a pivotal game, where Michael Jordan solidified the grabbing of the torch from Magic Johnson and helped the Chicago Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-82 to go up 3-1 in the series. The Bulls closed it out in Game 5 and began their dynasty.

"He came up on the right side and came up with the tongue out. We all jumped, we thought we had him. And he switched it to his left mid-air," recalled Johnson of the famous switch-hands layup Jordan made in Game 2. "We said, 'You know what, passing of the torch.' I told him, it’s your turn now, it’s your time now."

Jordan gifted these sneakers to Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who signed Jordan to his first sneaker deal.

19. The Diamond Shoe by Kathryn Wilson

Value: $418,450

Bottom line: New Zealand footwear designer Kathryn Wilson made these blinged-out heels in 2013. They have 21.18 carats worth of diamonds, which took 50 hours to apply and required a full-on security detail while the designer worked.

But it's not all about greed. These were custom made for a Ronald McDonald House charity auction, and they sold for $418,450 for a good cause.

18. Michael Jordan's 1984-85 Rookie Year Jordan 1s

Value: $420,000

Bottom line: These Jordans were worn by the legend during the 1984-85 season, where he was named Rookie of the Year and averaged 28.2 points per game.

The shoes were gifted by Jordan to photographer Robert Crawford. Crawford was a favorite photographer of Jordan who snapped shots of the legend during his days at the University of North Carolina. Jordan met him again at a Bulls vs. Pacers game on March 26, 1985, and gifted him these game shoes.

The shoes hit Grey Flannel Auction with a minimum bid of $50,000 in June 2021, but skyrocketed to $420,000 by the time the auction ended.

17. 1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat "Moon Shoe"

Value: $437,500

Bottom line: The "moon shoe" is one of the most important shoes in Nike's history. It was designed by Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman, who designed the shoe for runners at the 1972 Olympic trials.

Bowerman created the waffle-shaped sole pattern by pouring rubber into his wife's waffle iron, experimenting with treads that would get just the right traction.

Only a dozen pairs were created, and the ones that sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2019 were unworn.

16. Stuart Weitzman Diamond Dream Stiletto

Value: $500,000

Bottom line: These stilettos are made with 1,420 individual white Kwiat diamonds weighing over 30 carats total and were made by Stuart Weitzman. They're known as the Diamond Dream Shoe and were made for "Dreamgirls" star Anika Noni Rose, who wore them to the 2007 Academy Awards.

Stuart Weiztman is a 1941-born American shoe designer who launched his eponymous brand in 1986. He's especially known for creating overly lavish one-off shoes for Hollywood elites, like Beyonce and Taylor Swift.

"As Anika pursues and accomplishes her dream, I wanted to recognize this young actress by creating a luxuriously glamorous shoe for her to wear down the red carpet on Hollywood's most celebrated evening," Stuart Weitzman said in a news release.

15. Michael Jordan's 1985 Player Sample Air Jordan 1s

Michael Jordan's Rookie Nike Air Jordan 1s

Value: $560,000

Bottom line: These iconic red, white and black Chicago Bulls colorway sneakers were worn by Michael Jordan in 1985. They were game-worn and signed by His Airness, and the "player sample" tag means they were made specifically for a player. The Air Jordans that hit stores were different.

Like all of Jordan's game-worn shoes, the left foot is a sized 13 and the right is a size 13.5. Over the course of 10, days, 10 bidders across four continents battled it in online bids when these shoes went up for auction May 2020, with the final sale price landing at $560,000.

13. Michael Jordan's "Shattered Backboard" Nike Air 1s

Value: $615,000

Bottom line: In 1985, Michael Jordan scored 30 points and broke the backboard during an Italy-based exhibition game. The backboard shattered into a thousand pieces, with one of the shards lodging into the sole of his left shoe.

That shard is still there, and this pair of shoes commanded $615,000 at a Christie's online auction in May 2020. Surprisingly, it sold below its estimated value pf $650,000-$850,000.

13. Ruby Red Slippers from the Wizard of Oz

Value: $660,000

Bottom line: As of 2009, there are only five known pairs of Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from 1939's "The Wizard of Oz." One of them sold at just $15,000 in 1970, while another pair sold for an astounding $666,000 at auction in 2000. The buyers apparently put them up for sale for $6 million in 2018, but no reported sale was made.

The famous "There's no place like home" slippers were created by costume designer Gilbert Adrian. Another pair of them are on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

11. Stuart Weitzman Retro Rose Pump (Tie)

Value: $1 million

Bottom line: These Stuart Weitzman pumps are a throwback to the vintage 1940s and 1950s style, with each shoe featuring 900 Kwiat diamonds and making up the rose petals for a total of 100 carats.

Weitzman asked "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody to wear these $1 million shoes to the Oscars, but Cody rejected it. "It was a cheesy publicity stunt," she told The Associated Press, and then called it a "lame publicity stunt at a time when I already want to hide" on her blog.

11. Stuart Weitzman's Marilyn Monroe (Tie)

The Stuart Weitzman's Marilyn Monroe shoe

Value: $1 million

Bottom line: These shoes weren't worn by Marilyn Monroe, but they do — or once did — have a connection to the late Hollywood starlet. The Swarovski crystals on the shoe were Monroe's personal earrings.

These shoes were loaned to Regina King, who donned them for the 2005 Academy Awards. Later, they were sold at a charity auction, where they fetched $1 million.

However, Monroe's earrings were removed by the shoe, and were replaced by other rare stones. If they still had those earrings, this shoe would certainly be higher on this list.

10. Stuart Weitzman Wizard of Oz Ruby Stilettos

Value: $1.6 million

Bottom line: Inspired by the "Wizard of Oz," these 4.5-inch high heels are made with a deep red satin and feature 642 Burma rubies set on a half-pound of platinum. Total carats: 123.33.

There's only one pair (and it's a size four), and they were on sale and display at Harrods' in London.

9. Kanye West's 2008 Grammy Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes

Value: $1.8 million

Bottom line: These were the Air Yeezys that Kanye West wore on stage to the Grammys in 2008, marking their unofficial debut to the world. It lit the sneaker world on fire.

There were rumors that Kanye and Nike were making a sneaker, but nothing was definite. These never-before-seen shoes, marked with the Nike swoosh, confirmed it.

Sotheby's managed to procure these shoes, which had previously sold to raise funds for a children's hospital, and put them up for a private auction in April 2021. They fetched $1.8 million.

6. Stuart Weitzman Tanzanite Heel (Tie)

Value: $2 million

Bottom line: Weitzman is at again, this time with a pair of evening sandals with 185 carats worth of blue-purple tanzanite stones and 28 carats worth of diamonds. A single 16-carat tanzanite dangles from the ankle strap.

Tanzanite is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world, so it's no wonder why these kicks are so pricey.

Weitzman debuted them in 2006.

6. Nick Cannon's Diamond-Covered Tom Ford Loafers (Tie)

Value: $2 million

Bottom line: Did you know Nick Cannon has a pair of shoes worth more than most people make in 10 years?

These loafers are a leather pair of Tom Fords that were customized by designer Jason Arasheben, who used 14,000 full-cut round white diamonds totaling 340 carats to create these blinding monstrosities.

Cannon wore them on the Season 9 finale of NBC's "America's Got Talent" in 2014.

6. Stuart Weitzman Cinderella Slippers (Tie)

$2 million Stuart Weitzman Cinderella Slippers

Value: $2 million

Bottom line: Grammy-drenched country singer Alison Kraus wore these Weitzman heels at the 2004 Academy Awards. They were made with 565 Kwiat diamonds totaling 55 carats and have platinum and Italian leather workings.

The right heel has a rare 5-carat amaretto diamond which alone is worth $1 million.

5. Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordans

Michael Jordan game-worn Air Jordan XII from 1998 NBA Finals Game 2.

Value: $2.2 million

Bottom line: This pair of Air Jordan XIII game-worn sneakers set a record for the highest sale price for a pair of athletic shoes when they went for $2.2 million at a Sotheby's auction in April 2023.

These were the sneakers Michael Jordan wore in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, which was his final season with the Chicago Bulls. The shoes were shown in the 2020 documentary "The Last Dance" and are also signed by the man himself.

3. Stuart Weitzman Rita Hayworth Heel (Tie)

Value: $3 million

Bottom line: Like the Marilyn Monroe shoe, Weitzman put some fancy earrings front-and-center in these pair of heels.

This time, the diamonds, sapphire and ruby earrings belonged to Rita Hayworth, the 1940s Hollywood actress who was one of the most popular starlets of the decade.

Interestingly, these shoes aren't for sale. They're owned by Hayworth's daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.

3. Harry Winston Ruby Slippers (Tie)

Value: $3 million

Bottom line: These pumps were inspired by those from "The Wizard of Oz." But these aren't movie props. These were made from 4,600 rubies and diamonds, for a total of 1,350 rubies and 50 carats of diamonds.

Just don't click the toes, you might scruff the diamonds.

2. Debbie Wingham Stilettos

Value: $15.1 million

Bottom line: Debbie Wingham is a British fashion designer who is known to create overly expensive, custom-made creations for some of the wealthiest people in the world. At one point, she made a $64 million cake.

So it's no surprise that she made the second-most expensive shoe in the world in 2017 (which was then the most expensive shoe in the world).

An unnamed party commissioned these $15.1 million shoes as a birthday gift. They have large pink and blue diamonds which make up the bulk of the cost ($13 million), as well as 1,000 pointer diamonds and four flawless three-carat white diamonds.

1. Passion Diamond Shoes

Passion Diamond Shoes worth $17 million, most expensive shoes in the world

Value: $17 million

Bottom line: United Arab Emirates-based fashion brand Jada Dubai concocted these absurdly priced, $17 million shoes and unveiled them to the world in 2018.

Dubbed the Passion Diamond Shoes, they feature hundreds of diamonds and a D-flawless, 15-carat diamond crowning each shoe. There's only one pair in the world, of course, and the shoe's maker is adamant that you could walk in them if you desired.

“We had to prototype many shoes in Italy in order to find the perfect shape, perfect heel, the perfect color for it. Even inside, the logos of both companies are made out gold, which is very thin so it will be very comfortable for walking,” Maria Majari, cofounder of Passion Diamond Shoes, said.

Of course, the $17 million price tag was also a bit of a publicity stunt. While the multimillion-dollar heels are, or were, up for sale, they were made to kick off a launch event. As of this writing, the Passion Diamond Shoes are the most expensive shoe in the world.