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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On December 14, 2008, an Iraqi journalist threw both of his shoes at then U.S. President George W. Bush during a joint press conference, forcing Bush to dodge. Following the shoe-throwing incident, the journalist was sentenced to three years in prison. But who would have thought that the shoes he threw were worth $10 million?
Forbes India has listed the top 10 most expensive shoes in the world, boasting a high price tag and high-end materials. Scroll down for more.
1. Moon Star Shoes by Antonio Vietri ($19.9 million)
Topping the list with a jaw-dropping price tag of $19.9 million, Moon Star Shoes by Antonio Vietri are currently the most expensive shoes ever made. Revealed in 2019 during the MIDE Fashion Week in Dubai, these stunning shoes, made from white gold, are adorned with 30 carats of diamonds and a meteorite shard from Argentina.
2. Jada Dubai and Passion Jewellers Passion Diamond Shoes ($17 million)
Coming in at $17 million, the Passion Diamond Shoes by Jada Dubai and Passion Jewellers are a testament to luxury and craftsmanship. These high heels are made from gold and feature nearly 240 diamonds, with a 15-carat D-flawless diamond adorning the toe of each shoe. The Passion Diamond Shoes are currently housed in the Burj-al Arab Hotel.
3. Debbie Wingham Heels ($15.1 million)
A collaboration between Debbie Wingham and Chris Campbell, the Debbie Wingham heels, crafted for an unidentified family in Dubai, feature rare 3-carat pink and 1-carat blue diamonds. At $15.1 million, the heels are also made of platinum and feature hand-painted 24-carat gold accents.
It took more than 100 hours for both designers to complete this extravagant creation. The footwear was first introduced to the public in 2017 at the Dubai Raffles Hotel Tea Time event.
4. Shoes Thrown at President George W. Bush ($10 million)
Yes, you read it right. The shoes thrown at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in 2008 are among the world’s most expensive shoes.
The shoes belonged to an Iraqi journalist named Muntadhar al-Zaidi. His shoes hold immense value, worth $10 million. This is after a 66-year-old Saudi man willing to pay $10 million for both shoes, which he described as a “medal of freedom." Business Insider reported that he was ready to sell all his properties only to purchase those shoes.
Forbes India also adds that the company believed to have made the shoes witnessed a surge in sales of up to 300,000 orders in a week due to online shoe-throwing games inspired by the incident.
5. Harry Winston Ruby Slippers ($3 million)
Created as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz," the Harry Winston Ruby Slippers are valued at $3 million. Whereas they are different from the original ones in the movie, this version of Harry Winston Ruby slippers displays 1,350 carats of rubies and 50 carats of diamonds.
Forbes India mentions that it took around two months to hand-sew all 4,600 ruby stones onto the shoes.
6. Stuart Weitzman Rita Hayworth Heels ($3 million)
These heels, named after the famous Holywood actress Rita Hayworth, were created by the most celebrated American shoe designer, Stuart Weitzman. Worth $3 million, these stunning craftsmanship stand out for the earrings, which belonged to Rita Hayworth herself, attached to them.
7. Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Sneakers ($2.2 million)
No list of expensive shoes would be complete without a mention of Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals sneakers. The black and red Air Jordan 13 sneakers were sold at $2.2 million during a 2023 auction at Sotheby’s in New York.
These shoes are of great value due to their historic significance. To be precise, the sneakers were worn during the iconic Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, which many often referred to as “The Last Dance," Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls.
8. Stuart Weitzman Cinderella Slippers ($2 million)
Another outstanding creation of Stuart Weitzman is the Cinderella slippers. While the high-heeled stilettos aren’t made of glass, his version is as magical as the original ones.
At $2 million, the Stuart Weitzman Cinderella slippers are made from fine Italian leather and adorned with 565 Kwiat diamonds. This luxurious footwear also features a rare 5-carat amaretto diamond.
These slippers drew more attention after the renowned country singer Alison Krauss wore them at the 2004 Oscars.
9. Tanzanite Heels ($2 million)
Stuart Weitzman also created another high-end footwear, the Tanzanite Heels, coming in at $2 million. The 4.5-inch heels are covered with 185 carats of tanzanite gemstones along with 28 carats of diamonds.
They are even more valuable as the shoes are adorned with 595 carats of Kwiat diamonds set in platinum.
10. Tom Ford Custom by Jason Arasheben ($2 million)
To round up our list of the most expensive shoes in the world, here are the Tom Ford Custom Shoes, valued at $2 million. These are custom shoes for Nick Cannon, created by Jason Arasheben.
The footwear stands out for its 14,000 full-cut round white diamonds set in white gold. The shoes required over 2,000 hours of labor and nearly a year to complete.
From Antonio Vietri’s Moonstar Shoes to Michael Jordan’s iconic sneakers, these are the most expensive shoes in the world, presenting a mix of wealth and art.
We have more on this topic on Tempo. Read our previous list of the most expensive sneakers in the world to find out which sneakers sell for bombastic prices.
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