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Highlights
- Shoes are no longer just a necessity; they have become a symbol of status and wealth.
- Some of most expensive shoes in the world incorporate precious stones to lure wealthy customers, but others are pricey for reasons other than luxe materials.
- Designers justify the high prices of expensive shoes by incorporating elements like rare gems and exquisite craftsmanship.
A great shoe can make an everlasting impression on onlookers, and a befitting pair can elevate the look of any ensemble. But that’s not all, as the most expensive shoes reveal.
Centuries ago, shoes were solely for protecting feet from the curvy, bumpy, and dangerous surfaces of yore; then, they graduated, and were considered symbols of fashion and couture.
Now, the purpose of shoes has evolved, and they are even widely regarded as a decent indicator of an individual's personality.
For most of footwear history, the shoe was merely a necessity for humans – now shoes have become a signifier, often (but not always) telegraphing status and wealth.
Brands and designers are in a perpetual race to entice their customers, developing technologies and innovative designs and selling their footwear at extravagantly high prices.
However, some are in the race to create the most expensive shoes, by incorporating elements like precious stone embellishments to lure the richest customers.
Let's take a look at the most expensive shoes in the world today, and explore how brands and designers justify their staggering prices.
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Millions, BillionsSony's Michael Jackson Deal, Queen, And The Biggest Music Catalog Sales Of All Time
As Sony buys Michael Jackson's catalog and Queen seeks a similar deal, let's look at the lurid and lucrative world of music catalog sales.5 Harry Winston’s 'Wizard Of Oz' Ruby Slippers
Harry Winston's Ruby Slippers Value (Estimated): $3 Million
There has been so much drama around the Ruby Slippers worn by iconic character Dorothy Gale (played by the legendary actress Judy Garland) in the beloved classic musical fantasy film The Wizard Of Oz.
Though it is unknown how many Ruby Slippers were crafted for the film's production, four pairs of the original Ruby Slippers exist today.
However, in 2005, someone stole one set of these precious Ruby Slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. This development angered fans of both Judy Garland and The Wizard Of Oz.
One supporter was so aggrieved, he offered $1 million for the return of the stolen pair of shoes. But for 13 years, nothing came of it, and the shoes remained missing.
In 2018, a break in the case resulted from an FBI sting operation. When suspects collected insurance money for the stolen Ruby Slippers, the FBI was able to recover the iconic and valuable shoes.
A man named Terry Martin confessed to being the culprit behind the theft of a piece of cinematic history.
On January 22nd, CNN reported that Martin admitted to having stolen the Ruby Slippers as one "last score," and that an unnamed accomplice sought them "because he mistakenly thought the slippers contained real rubies that could be sold as valuable gems."
To his disappointment, the Ruby Slippers used in The Wizard Of Oz were plain, without embellishment.
With respect to embellishment, in 1989 (the 50th anniversary of the movie), Ronald Winston – the son of renowned American jeweler Harry Winston – decided to make a tribute to the Ruby Slippers, adorned with many precious stones.
Harry Winston Inc. produced Ruby Slippers containing 4,600 rubies (1,350 carats of rubies), and also included 50 carats of diamonds in the mesmerizing design in their honor.
2:02
IconicThe Real Reason Living Legend Lana Del Rey Was Snubbed At The Grammys
Let’s explore Lana Del Rey’s musical influence, her net worth, and the actual reason Del Rey was snubbed (again and again) at the Grammys.4 Muntadhar Al-Zaidi's Shoes (Thrown At George W. Bush)
Al-Zaidi's Shoes Value (Estimated): $10 Million
Famous actress and singer Bette Midler once said: "I firmly believe that with the right footwear, one can rule the world.”
However, in one legendary incident, the ruler was on the receiving end of the shoes, when angry Iraqi journalist Muntadhar Al-Zaidi threw a shoe at former President George W. Bush.
On the now-historic day of December 14th 2008, in the prime minister's palace, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and Former President George W. Bush were taking questions from journalists during a routine joint press conference.
However, journalist Muntadhar Al-Zaidi was not in the mood to pose a question.
In what is now known as the "George W. Bush shoeing incident," Al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Bush:
Bush ducked, and managed to escape both flying shoes.
Nouri Al Maliki tried to catch the second shoe thrown at Bush, but the 43rd President of the United States was too quick, evading each shoe.
Later, the Iraqi Prime Minister and some journalists apologized to President Bush for this incident.
On the other hand, many people around the world approved of this protest, and view Muntadhar Al-Zaidi as a hero for speaking truth to power.
One Saudi business person offered $10 million for the shoes.
A Turkish maker, Ramazan Bayzan, is believed to have made the shoes worn by journalist Al-Zaidi; the company subsequently received 300,000 orders for the shoes in just one week.
Al-Zaidi's historic, yet ordinary shoes (with no precious stones) consequently rated a staggering price of $10 million.
2:46 More IconsSony's Michael Jackson Deal, Queen, And The Biggest Music Catalog Sales Of All Time
As Sony buys Michael Jackson's catalog and Queen seeks a similar deal, let's look at the lurid and lucrative world of music catalog sales.3 Debbie Wingham's Diamond Stiletto High Heels
Debbie Wingham's High Heels Value (Estimated): $15.1 Million
Some designers are in the business of creating the costliest items to allure the wealthy shoppers of the world.
British designer Debbie Wingham is a prominent figure among them, hailed as the "Queen Of The World’s Most Expensive."
In 2017, Wingham showcased her mastery of the world of lavish living, introducing ultra-luxurious stilettos loaded with precious gems.
Debbie Wingham's high heels were the most expensive shoes in the world at that time, costing $15.1 million for one super-rich Dubai family.
She collaborated with Floridan artist Chris Campbell to create these astonishing shoes, capable of mesmerizing onlookers for a minute or two.
The glimmering Debbie Wingham diamond stilettos were studded with the most precious and rare stones in the world.
For the commissioned high heels, she used a one-carat blue diamond and a three-carat pink diamond. She designed the shoes with 1,000 pointer diamonds in a platinum frame.
"The Queen Of The World’s Most Expensive" justified the $15.1 million price further by crafting a gold sole and gold zipper, using 18-karat gold thread for stitching.
2:12
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A$AP Rocky's net worth is increasing, and he is laser focused on his family and career while building his fortune.2 Passion Diamond Shoes (Passion Jewelers x Jada Dubai)
Passion Diamond Shoes Value (Estimated): $17 Million
Debbie Wingham’s shoes remained the most expensive shoes in the world for a single year.
These Passion Diamond Shoes quickly upped the ante, and dethroned The Queen’s luxe stilettos in just one year.
UAE-based brands Passion Jewelers and Jada Dubai teamed up to produce the world's most expensive shoes.
In 2018, these two brands showcased a glimpse of Passion Diamond Shoes in the iconic Burj Al Dubai hotel.
The shining heels, crafted with pure gold, gripped the audience in awe, as they witnessed pure gold-framed shoes designed with original sparkling diamonds.
There were 236 diamonds in total in the design of the second most expensive shoes on this list, and a 15-carat D flawless diamond near the toes made the shoes even more astonishing.
Jada Dubai and Passion Jewelers worked meticulously for nine months to create this masterpiece shoe.
Keeping Up With All the Kardashians' Side Hustles
Love them or loathe them, all the Kardashians (and Jenners) are a magnet for money.1 Antonio Vietri’s Moonstar Shoes
Antonio Vietri's Moonstar Shoes Value (Estimated): $19.9 Million
Like their predecessor, the Passion Diamond Shoes held the crown of the most expensive shoes for just a year.
By October 2019, Moonstar Shoes had snagged the competitive title of the most expensive shoes in the world.
Italian designer Antonio Vietri is another expensive shoe designer, who showcased his masterpiece at the Dubai Marina Hotel on October 11th of that year.
Vietri's Moonstar shoes, with a distinctive design and larger elements, convinced attendees that these were indeed the most expensive shoes ever.
Antonio Vietri routinely crafts shoes with precious stones to capture the attention of the richest customers, specifically those from Gulf countries.
Vietri is not new to the concept, and he has designed many gold and diamond-flecked shoes, priced in the thousands and millions of dollars.
However, this time, his Moonstar shoes became the world’s most expensive shoes and are still reigning at press time in 2024.
Vietri arranged a silver platform for the sandals with tall, pure gold high heels.
He designed the upper shape with silver and gold, creating a crown-like embellishment on the shoes with 30 carats of diamonds.
Vietri used a rare Argentine Meteorite from 1576 to enhance the glittering style of the shoe.
A meteorite is a rock that comes from space and survives its journey to the surface of the Earth. Meteorites fall in the form of dust or small pebbles, which is why we often fail to notice them.
However, we were surprised to discover that every year, 17,000 meteorites fall to the Earth's surface.
All the most expensive shoes on this list serve as a reminder of the world's diverse tastes, and how money often influences status.
The hardest working among us often work hard to obtain a single pair of shoes, and are typically consider poor.
Those who can afford shoes (but not exorbitant ones, or all the styles they desire) are typically considered middle class, and upper middle class purchasers can afford designer brands.
But the most expensive shoes featured on this list are accessible only to the ultra-wealthy, with several serving solely as collectibles.
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