Michael Jordan still continues to break records. A set of six individual sneakers worn by Jordan during the clinching games of his six career NBA championships sold for an astronomical $8 million, setting a global auction record for game-worn sneakers.
Dubbed “The Dynasty Collection,” the set consisted of an 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).
“Serving as both a reminder of Michael Jordan’s lasting impact on the world and a tangible expression of his recognized legendary status, its significance is further validated by this monumental result,” says Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectables, in a statement to HobbyListings. “A truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history, the sale of these six championship-clinching sneakers will likely never be replicated.”
The sneaker set originally came from a former Chicago Bulls executive, Tim Halland, who received a game-worn sneaker after every championship win. The tradition started when Halland initially asked MJ in 1991 if he could have a game-worn sneaker if they beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Jordan continued to give him his championship-winning sneakers because he was superstitious.
The buyer’s name was not given.
“The Last Dance” documentary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused Jordan memorabilia to explode in the hobby world.
In April 2023, a pair of Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s went for a whopping $2.2 million. Sotheby’s also holds the record for any game-worn sports memorabilia when MJ’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey fetched $10.1 million in September 2022.
On the sports card side, Jordan’s 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographs card numbered 6/23 and graded BGS 8 went for $2.7 million, the most ever paid for an MJ basketball card.
Jordan’s legendary career includes six NBA Finals MVP Awards, five NBA MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals. He also changed the sneaker industry game after signing with Nike, as his Air Jordan brand became a billion-dollar business.
#AuctionUpdate The complete set of Michael Jordan’s 6 championship sneakers sold for $8 million today at #SothebysNewYork, setting a new global auction record for game worn sneakers. pic.twitter.com/l1jgFea4c0
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) February 2, 2024
Last year, Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion. According to Forbes, MJ is the first professional athlete to crack the list of America’s 400 wealthiest people. He has an estimated net worth of $3 billion.