Sotheby's auctions off Virgil Abloh Archives like holy relics, while Christie's treats player-exclusive Jordans as if they're Picassos. Meanwhile, Heritage Auctions sells 1985 Air Jordan 1s for what could be someone's college tuition. I tell myself I'm just researching, not coveting.
StockX has become my midnight obsession—refreshing bids on shoes I'll never afford. The Alley Oop Sneaker Museum in Toronto might as well be selling unicorns. Even Bidsquare and Invaluable mock me with their "accessible" luxury.
Yesterday, Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes sold for $1.8 million. That's shelter for hundreds, yet here I am, calculating what organs I could sell to afford the 1985 Air Jordan 1 High Chicago that went for a "mere" $8,750.
I've set calendar reminders for Sotheby's 2026 NBA Series auctions. I've bookmarked the charity events for Autism Acceptance Month. I keep telling myself it's about appreciation, not acquisition. But when I catch myself researching eBay's Authenticity Guarantee at 3 AM, I wonder who I'm becoming.
I've spent hours scrolling through these exclusive shoe auctions, watching prices climb to absurd heights for what are essentially just... shoes. Yet I can't look away. Autographed Jordans that someone sweated in for 48 minutes sell for more than my car. Is this passion or pathology?
Author Profile
Editor in Chief
Martin Snytsheuvel began his photojournalism career in Las Vegas in 1977. Since then, he’s covered Hollywood celebrities, entertainment, and fine dining for various online publications. Now working as editor-in-chief of “AUCTION WALK NEWS,” he reports on auctions from Christie’s showrooms to rural estate sales, many featured on his YouTube channel “AUCTION WALK.”
