Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ old sandals auctioned at a record price 

What comes to your mind when you hear the term ‘corporate?’ A place where everyone is busy and is walking in their best formal attires and trying to keep up excellent behaviour. Coming to male corporate attire, it usually comprises of a suit, formal trousers, shirt with cufflinks, a well-knotted tie and dress shoes. In fact, that’s how you imagine corporate legends such as the Apple co-founder late Steve Jobs or Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg.  

But what if we told you that these people often don’t care about their attires at all? Yes, that’s right! For instance, Steve Jobs mostly wore hoodies or sweatshirts with jeans alongside a particular pair of German sandals.  

Now, guess what? These pair of beloved German sandals from the brand Birkenstocks have recently been auctioned at a record-breaking price. The brown suede pair was regularly worn by the late Apple co-founder throughout 1970s and 1980s and can be deemed as “well-used yet intact.” Maybe that’s why, it raised a whooping 218,750 US dollars (equivalent to INR 1.77 crores) at the auction, making it the highest price ever fetched by a pair of sandals. The buyer chose to remain anonymous.  

Okay, so who auctioned off the old pair of Steve Jobs sandals? Well, that would be the California-based Julien’s Auctions. It was part of their “Icons and Idols: Rock n Roll” public sale. After Steve Jobs demise in 2011, these pairs were owned (not worn!) by his long-time house manager Mark Sheff. According to Sheff, the late business magnate of America had worn the pair during many important moments in Apple’s history, including the company’s birth in 1976.   

Metaphorically speaking, Jobs left behind permanent footprints on the global tech industry, however, these pair of old sandals too carry his footprints, that too real and visible ones, on the cork and jute footbed, shaped after years of extensive use. They also contain adjustable buckles and original Birkenstocks stamps on the inner edge of the suede leather foot straps. The rubber soles indicate heavy wear from use, that also includes a hard case meant for protective storage and comfortable transport.  

In case you are wondering, the market price of these sandals now goes as 25 US dollars only. However, due to its legendary value, the pair was expected to sell for 60,000 US dollars. However, it ended up fetching almost four times the amount. Interestingly, the buyer not only received the pair of sandals but also an accompanying NFT (Non-fungible token, which is nothing but a unique digital identifier).  

Several sources close to the late Steve Jobs have cited that these sandals were part of his simple yet sophisticated identity and remained at the top shelf of his wardrobe. In fact, it was so special that he even wore them during winter. Previously, the pair of sandals were displayed in various exhibits from New York to Rahms, Germany (headquarters of Birkenstocks) to Milan, Italy.