Top 13+ shoes that are worth more than your car
Whether worn for pleasure, for performance or as a powerful statement, shoes have long been used as symbols of status in human society.
But even though not all shoes are made for walking, they can still fetch millions of dollars at auction.
Take a look at some of the most expensive shoes in the world—from luxury stilettos and sneakers to coveted collectibles.
The No Limit Greek high-top sneaker from Christian Louboutin is one of this season’s most costly shoes
Expelled from school at 16, Christian Louboutin didn’t always have a smooth journey to becoming a star shoe designer. Yet, his footwear label is now one of the most recognizable (and expensive) in the world.
These No Limit Greek high-top sneakers are no exception. Made from calf leather, suede, mesh and a graphic evil-eye-inspired print, the shoes also feature the unmistakable Louboutin red sole and ornate embroidery inspired by Ancient Greece.
The price? A princely US$2,300.
A pair of Judy Garland’s original ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are now worth at least US$510,000
Arguably the most iconic shoes in Hollywood history, the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz now carry a hefty price tag.
Five pairs are still known to exist—one is displayed at the National Museum of American History, while another has its home at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (pictured).
Another pair was sold at auction for US$510,000 in 2011. Meanwhile, a fourth pair that was stolen (and then recovered) was estimated to be worth up to US$3 million.
Stuart Weitzman’s diamond-encrusted Retro Rose Pump could cost you US$1 million
Stuart Weitzman is no stranger to designing some of the fanciest—and most expensive—shoes in the world. In 2008, he created yet another masterpiece: the Retro Rose Pump. The vintage-inspired, diamond-encrusted stilettos were estimated to be worth US$1 million at the time.
The designer selected Oscar-nominated screenwriter Diablo Cody to wear the shoes on the red carpet. However, Cody refused to wear them, calling the offer “a lame publicity stunt.”
Michael Jordan’s game-worn Nike Air Ships are some of the world’s most expensive sneakers
In recent years, sneakers have started to overtake stilettos as some of the most expensive shoes in the world. One such example is a pair of basketball shoes worn by Michael Jordan, which were sold for almost US$1.5 million at auction in 2021.
The NBA icon wore the Nike Air Ships during the fifth game of his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Their sale was the highest sum ever paid for game-worn footwear from any sport.
Kanye West’s worn Nike Air Yeezy 1 fetched US$1.8 million at auction
Game-worn sneakers have quickly become the new Picassos at luxury auctions around the world. But what about Grammy-worn shoes?
In 2021, Sotheby’s announced it had sold the Nike Air Yeezy 1 sample for an incredible US$1.8 million in a private sale to sneaker investing platform Rares.
The sneakers had been specifically created in 2008 for Kanye West, who wore them during a performance at that year’s Grammy Awards.
Drake’s solid gold OVO x Air Jordan 10s are some of the world’s most expensive and unwearable shoes
As part of his OVO x Air Jordan 10s collaboration with Nike, Drake has helped design some of the most coveted sneakers on the market. But if you think those are expensive, check out the one-of-a-kind solid gold versions he unveiled on Instagram in 2016.
Based on the value of gold at that time, the sneakers were estimated to be worth almost US$2 million. However, due to their weight, these shoes aren’t designed to be worn.
Covered in diamonds, these custom Tom Fords are extravagantly expensive at US$2 million
In 2014, America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon set tongues wagging after wearing all-diamond custom Tom Ford shoes valued at US$2 million.
According to Women’s Wear Daily, the patent-leather pair have more than 14,000 full-cut round white diamonds set onto white gold, with a total carat weight of 340 carats. The shoes were created by Jason Arasheben of jewelry business Jason of Beverly Hills and took 2,000 hours to complete.
Stuart Weitzman’s lavish ‘Cinderella’ slippers capture fairy tale excess at US$2 million
In 2004, Stuart Weitzman added another opulent contender for one of the world’s most expensive shoes. The luxurious “Cinderella” slippers were designed for Alison Krauss (pictured wearing the shoes). The country and bluegrass singer wore them to the Academy Awards that year, where she performed two songs from the film Cold Mountain.
Made with 565 Kwiat diamonds, the stiletto sandals were estimated to be worth US$2 million at the time.
Debbie Wingham’s pricey stilettos take the cake with a value of US$15.1 million
Once the most expensive shoes in the world, the Debbie Wingham High Heels are valued at an astonishing US$15.1 million.
Created by British designer Debbie Wingham and contemporary artist Chris Campbell, the stilettos were commissioned as a gift by an unnamed family and were intended to look like a cake. The stilettos are bedecked with a variety of diamonds and feature leather covered in 24-karat gold paint.
At US$17 million, the Passion Diamond Shoes were once the most expensive shoes in the world
The result of a collaboration between Jada Dubai and Passion Jewellers, the Passion Diamond Shoes are made from real gold, feature two 15-carat diamonds on the upper and are adorned with hundreds more diamonds.
Valued at an astonishing US$17 million when they were revealed in 2018, they overtook Debbie Wingham’s high heels as the most expensive shoes in the world at that time. However, they have since been surpassed by Antonio Vietri’s US$19.9 million-Moon Star Shoes, which debuted in 2019.
