Steve Jobs’s Classic Birkenstocks Snap Up a Stunning $218,000 at Auction
The legendary Apple co‑founder’s worn leather sandals—complete with the unmistakable imprint of his feet—sold for a staggering $218,000 (S$299,000) at a recent auction, a price that far outstrips their original $2,000 sale in 2016 by his house manager, Mark Sheff.
Why These Sandals Were Worth Their Weight in Wine
- They’re the singular footwear that Jobs reportedly slipped on during the most pivotal moments of his career, from the humble garage in Los Altos to the launch of the Mac and iPhone.
- Chrisann Brennan, his former partner, once described them as “his simple side” and even called them his uniform—a nifty way to avoid the dreaded morning “what should I wear?” dilemma.
- The sandals boast a cork and jute footbed that still retains the soft dent of Jobs’s foot, proof of years of comfortable usage. The rubber soles mirror the heavy wear that no one can deny.
- Even the auction house, Julien’s, had predicted a final bid in the $60,000–$80,000 range, but the demand of a modern-day treasure hunt lifted the price way beyond expectations.
A Quick Glimpse Back to the Past
In 2016, Steve’s house manager, Mark Sheff, sold the sandals for just $2,000—an amount that would have made a used pair of shoes look ridiculous. Jobs, who had a penchant for black turtlenecks but no love for mainstream fashion, touched the sneaker market almost as affectionately as his apple‑pie, with his eye on every detail.
But it wasn’t only his footwear that tugged at hearts; the fashion icon Issey Miyake picked up the Apple guru’s wardrobe. According to Walter Isaacson, Jobs once said:
“So I asked Issey to make me some of his black turtlenecks that I liked, and he made me like a hundred of them.”
Why a Pair of Sandals Becomes a Story
The sandals are more than just comfortable kicks—they’re a time capsule. Each step mapped its journey from the early days of Apple to a world now woven with technology. Their final price isn’t just money; it’s a homage to a man who found simplicity in his shoes while changing the world.
And to wrap up in a touch of lighter lore, the “Alice of Apple” has lived with various interesting anecdotes, one being that Ashton Kutcher took a detour to the hospital following Steve Jobs’s fruit diet plan—a surprising turn for a pop‑culture legend.
Bottom Line
When you think you’re buying a pair of jeans or a pair of sneakers, remember that swapping your feet into a pair of Steve Jobs’s vintage Birkenstocks is like stepping into a chapter of Apple’s history—every sole pocketing a bit of the inventor’s legacy forever.
