📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Apple's Most Expensive Item Isn't Sold at the Apple Store: 'One of the Most Obscure in Existence' One pair of "ultra rare" Apple sneakers will be auctioned by Sotheby's for $50,000.

By Madeline Garfinkle

Key Takeaways

  • The sneakers were specially made for Apple employees as a one-time giveaway during a National Sales Conference in the mid-1990s.
entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Apple's known for its high-tech products and innovation, but when it comes to selling merch, the company was way ahead of its time.

In 1986, Apple released a clothing and accessories line called "The Apple Collection," featuring mugs, umbrellas, bags, keyrings, and even a sailboard, all showcasing the now-nostalgic rainbow Apple logo, but it was discontinued in 1999.

Apple logo sneakers, however, were specially made for Apple employees as a one-time giveaway during a National Sales Conference in the 1990s. And now, an "ultra-rare" pair has resurfaced.

Luxury auctioneer, Sotheby's, is selling a pair of "ultra-rare" Apple sneakers for a staggering $50,000 — higher than the price of any current Apple product, CNN reported.

"Having never reached the general public, this particular pair of sneakers is one of the most obscure in existence and highly coveted on the resale market," Sotheby's wrote in the catalog listing.

Sotheby's

Sotheby's

The size 10.5 sneakers are in "new" condition and come in the original box. The shoes are accompanied by a pair of red laces, Sotheby's stated. However, due to their age, some signs of wear are present, such as yellowing around the midsoles and glue, as well as light marks on the toe boxes.

Throughout Apple's almost half-century existence, it's gone through various stages of evolution, garnering a sense of nostalgia in consumers who still remember the white brick-like desktops and first-generation iPods – driving the prices of its rare memorabilia to astonishing heights.

Last month, a first-edition 2007 iPhone was sold for over $190,000, dubbed the "Holy Grail" by the auctioneer LCG Auctions, CNN reported.

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Fundraising

My Startup Couldn't Raise VC Funding, So We Became Profitable. Here's How We Did It — And How You Can Too.

Four months ago, my startup reached profitability for the first time. It came after more than a year of active work and planning, and here's what it took.

Starting a Business

Clinton Sparks Podcast: From Hit Records to Humanitarian Powerhouse, Akon Shares His Entrepreneurial Journey

This podcast is a fun, entertaining and informative show that will teach you how to succeed and achieve your goals with practical advice and actionable steps given through compelling stories and conversations with Clinton and his guests.

Business News

McDonald's Is Responding to Sky-High Fast Food Prices By Rolling Out a Much Cheaper Value Meal: Report

The news comes as the chain looks to redirect back to customer "affordability."

Starting a Business

Clinton Sparks Podcast: CEO of Complex Shares How Media, Culture Have Shifted in Recent Years

This podcast is a fun, entertaining and informative show that will teach you how to succeed and achieve your goals with practical advice and actionable steps given through compelling stories and conversations with Clinton and his guests.

Business News

Jack Dorsey Explains Bluesky Exit: 'Literally Repeating All the Mistakes We Made' at Twitter

Dorsey left the Bluesky board and deleted his account earlier this week.