Why are Steve Jobs’ old Birkenstocks selling for $220,000 at auction?

We know it: character aficionados can buy things that belonged to their idol at exorbitant prices, whether it’s an old piece of chewing gum, a haute couture dress, or even… well-made and worn sandals, as is the case today with old Steve Jobs Birkenstocks.

Birkenstock sandals, part of Steve Jobs uniform

The late co-founder of Apple, considered by many to be a tech and marketing genius, was also known for his everyday uniform attire: black Issey Miyake turtleneck, Levi’s jeans, and New Balance sneakers. This will prevent him from wasting time thinking about how to dress in the morning, but also to consolidate his image in the eyes of the general public, as many other personalities passionate about optimizing decision-making do.

But when he wasn’t wearing New Balance, Steve Jobs also enjoyed wearing the Arizona sandal model by the German brand Birkenstock, especially in the 70s and 80s. It is a model of those years, in suede, sold this week for 220,000 dollars through Julien’s auction house.

Steve Jobs’ Birkenstock record sold at auction for $220,000

Initially estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, they then pulverized forecasts, compared to other items from the same sale such as T-shirts, shirts, ties and other bow ties. Even a leather jacket valued at $8,000, sold for $22,400, or a Baume & Mercier watch valued at $400, sold for $18,750, so it comes close to the record figure (on the scale of this sale) of the old barefoot Steve Jobs. The former partner of the tech boss, Chrisann Brennan, had also praised its merits vogueas the product data sheet recalls:

“Sandals were part of her simple side. It was his uniform. The beauty of a uniform is that you don’t have to worry about what to wear in the morning. He would never make or buy anything just to stand out from the crowd. He was simply convinced of the elegance and practicality of the design and the comfort of wearing it. And with Birkenstock, he didn’t feel like a businessman, so he had the freedom to think creatively. »

Suffice it to say that the cork insole of these sandals, modeled on the shape of Steve Jobs’ toes, has certainly got some of his more affluent fans wiggling, ready to want to take them in the hope of getting some of his creativity. Podophobe and complex feet abstain.

Front page photo credit: Screenshot from Julien’s Auction auction house website / Portrait of Steve Jobs licensed under Creative Commons “Steve Jobs speaks during his keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference” © Ben Stanfield.