Michael Jordan’s championship sneakers sell for record $8 million at auction

“Obtaining something from one of Jordan’s championship games is the goal of every sports artifact collector. Owning all six items is unheard of,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collections said. “We are extremely excited about this result, which is a testament to the greatest gamer of all time.”

The Dynasty Collection earned headlines at the second Sotheby’s “The One” sale, a cross-category sale featuring a collection of prestigious objects representing human achievement and excellence.

As the hammer fell, the final price tag set a new global benchmark for game-worn sneakers while becoming the second-highest price for any Jordan memorabilia, behind only what Jordan paid for during his famous “Last Dance” season. Worn in the first game of the 1998 NBA Finals. The work sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in September 2022 and still holds the world record for game-worn sports memorabilia.

The auctioneer also holds the record for any pair of sneakers sold at auction, with the Air Jordan 13 shoes worn by Jordan in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals selling for $2.2 million in April 2023.

On February 17, Jordan will celebrate his 61st birthday. He has given away a pair of size 13 and 13.5 shoes – Air Jordan VI (1991), Air Jordan VII (1992), Air Jordan VIII (1993), Air Jordan XI (1996) ), Air Jordan XII (1997) and Air Jordan XIV (1998) — after each championship-defining win for Bulls public relations director Tim Hallam.

The sneakers were later acquired from Hallam by an American private collector and eventually put up for sale at Sotheby’s. The series was first released nearly a year ago and has captured the attention of sports fans and enthusiasts.

“Today’s record-breaking price proves the GOAT. There is no denying that the Dynasty Collection ranks among the most important collections of sports memorabilia in history,” Wachter said in a statement announcing the results.

“It is both a reminder of Michael Jordan’s lasting impact on the world and a tangible expression of his recognized legendary status, the significance of which is further confirmed by this landmark achievement.

The auction also includes another piece of Jordan memorabilia: a signed official scorer’s sheet from the highest-scoring game of his career, a 69-point game on March 28, 1990, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It sold for $50,800.