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Steve Jobs' sandals sold for a record Rs. 1.77 crore
Steve Jobs wore the Birkenstock sandals during the 1970's (Photo credit: Julien's Auctions)

Steve Jobs' sandals sold for a record Rs. 1.77 crore

Nov 16, 2022
01:38 pm

What's the story

A pair of brown Birkenstock sandals, which belonged to Steve Jobs, has been sold for $218,750 (approximately Rs. 1.77 crore), inclusive of an NFT. The footwear which was worn by the late Apple co-founder in the mid-1970s was auctioned by Julien's Auctions. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed. Reportedly, the sandals were worn during "many pivotal moments in Apple's history."

Context

Why does this story matter?

Jobs' sandals were estimated to sell for around $60,000 to $80,000. However, in reality, it sold for a much larger sum. The California-based auction house revealed this was the 'highest ever' price paid for a pair of sandals during an auction, thereby setting a record. As many as 19 bids were placed during the auction that lasted from November 11 to November 13.

Twitter Post

Check out the official announcement

Information

Prior to the auction, the sandals were with Jobs' manager

This pair of sandals, along with a few other belongings, was previously owned by Jobs' house manager, Mark Sheff. He revealed that the businessman created his own pair of sandals in 1970 as he was an "eco, alternative and New Age supporter."

Description

Even after years of use, the sandals remain intact

According to the official product description, Jobs' Birkenstock sandals, though well-used, are still intact. The footbed of the sandals, made of cork and jute, contains a firm imprint of Jobs' feet, as a result of years of use. Each sandal has Birkenstock's trademark feature, the adjustable buckles and stamping on the inner edge of the suede leather foot straps.

Official words

The sandals are a part of Jobs' journey with Apple

"Steve Jobs wore these sandals during many pivotal moments in Apple's history," reads the product description on the official Julien's Live website. "In 1976, he hatched the beginnings of Apple computer in a Los Altos garage with Apple's co-founder Steve Wozniak while occasionally wearing these sandals," reads the website. "When Jobs discovered the ingenuity and practicality of Birkenstocks, he became fascinated."

Display

The sandals have been a part of several exhibitions

Jobs' sandals have been displayed at several exhibitions over the past couple of years. The footwear made it to three exhibitions in 2017, including one at Birkenstock's headquarters in Germany. The following year it was featured at Birkenstock's first United States store in New York. Recently, it was also put on display at the Wurttemberg History Museum in Germany.

Information

Jobs' Pixar business card and handwritten note were sold earlier

In March, several of Jobs' items were sold during RR auction's 'The Steve Jobs Revolution: Engelbart, Atari, and Apple' sale. This includes a handwritten note, a job application for Atari, a Pixar business card, a signed five-year service award, and a signed copy of Macworld.