The biggest-ever auction of Eminem-owned and signed items closed on Tuesday, with over half a million dollars earned from selling sneakers. All proceeds benefit the Marshall Mathers Foundation and the project it runs to support disadvantaged youth in Detroit.
The final total of $511,040 exceeded the combined high estimates by 61% – pre-sale estimates had put the collection at $183,000–$316,400.
Out of 117 pairs of trainers – each signed and with an original box – the majority went for $2,000-$3,000. The cheapest lots, sold for “just” $2,240, appeared to be Adidas x Wings + Horns NMD_R2 and PUMA Tsugi Jun sneakers.
At the other end of the scale was the pair everyone expected to lead the sale: the Nike Air Jordan 3 “Slim Shady” Player Exclusive.
Created specifically for Eminem’s performance during the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, they were never meant for public release and never went on sale until now. Only 45 pairs were ever made, and two signed pairs from that run sold for $51,200 each.
The second-highest result was $22,400 for the stage-worn and signed Riyadh “Soundstorm” Nike Air Max 90s. Yet that is more than double what these sneakers were expected to sell for.
Another item that deserves a special mention is Nike Air Jordan 4 “Encore” Promo Sneakers. This shoe was from the 2017 run of only 23 pairs, the run inspired by the original 2005 “Encore” friends-and-family-only sneaker. These sneakers sold for $19,200, well within their estimated range. Hopefully, this price is not a reflection of what their new rumoured retail edition might cost.
Overall, the auction beat expectations and turned Eminem’s sneaker archive into more than $511,000 for the Marshall Mathers Foundation’s work with at-risk youth in Detroit.