Celebrities have often ventured into businesses while advancing their careers, and one of the most lucrative partnerships has been their sneaker lines, which help generate millions in sales every year.
Sneakers were a mainstay of fashion in Hollywood and in sports. As celebrities tend to become trend-setting fashion icons, all eyes remain on their ever-evolving fashions in the public eye. Since shoes are an important accessory, many A-listers wear sneakers, which emphasize their style and comfort. The commercialization of sneaker lines dates back to the 1980s when Michael Jordan and Nike shook hands to launch Air Jordan in what has now become a multi-billion dollar collaboration. As many technologies emerge in the world of sneakers, celebrities often show their love for accessories by collaborating with the best sports brands in the world.
More than just a fashion statement, sneakers have become a luxury item as the sneakers generate millions and sell out within days. Celebrities and shoe brands have often teamed up to create unforgettable designs that become iconic over time. From Michael Jordan’s Jumpman sneaker brand to Billie Eilish’s vegan shoes, let’s take a look at the sneaker lines of the stars that have raked in millions.
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12/12 KanyeWest
Known for his love of fashion, Kanye West collaborated with Louis Vuitton on a sneaker line before introducing the Nike Yeezy sneakers in 2009. After some conflicts, the rapper joined Adidas in 2015 and built a business empire that made him a billionaire. The sneaker company surpassed $1.5 billion in 2019 and has continued to grow. The sneakers contribute 10% to Adidas’ annual profits.
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11/12 Pharrell Williams
The Adidas Originals x Pharrell Williams collaboration began in 2014 when he released an edition of 50 Superstar sneakers, each in a different shade. Most of the shades in the Supercolor collaboration were taken from the Pantone guide with the help of Pharrell. The collaboration sold 15 million sneakers in 2014, and the number is growing every year.
10/12 beyonce
Beyoncé’s athleisure brand Ivy Park partnered with Adidas in 2019 when she came on board as a creative partner. Adidas stock posted 1.5% growth following the announcement. Since then, the singer has launched a variety of sneakers, and the brand continues to grow with plans to surpass Yeezy’s $1.5 billion mark.
9/12 Michael Jordan
The introduction of the Air Jordans in 1985 propelled Nike to the forefront of the sport and brought profits to Jordan. His sneaker line surpassed $5 billion in annual sales in 2021. Nike makes $15 million a day selling Air Jordans, while the former athlete earns $150 million annually for his 5% stake in the sneaker line.
8/12 Billie Eilish
In 2021, Billie Eilish released a two-shoe sneaker line with Air Jordan. She designed the AJ15 and AJKO in her colorway from vegan materials, with over 20% of the materials being recycled. Upon their release, the sneakers sold out within eight minutes of their launch, with each pair costing over $1,000.
7/12 rihanna
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Since launching Fenty Beauty in 2017, Rihanna’s beauty empire has grown in value to $3 billion, making her one of the richest musicians in the world. Before launching the beauty brand, Fenty collaborated with Puma to launch a sneaker line in 2016. Puma saw earnings jump 17.1% to $975 million.
4/12 Stephen Curry
Steph Curry landed a lucrative deal with Under Armor in 2013, earning him $4 million annually in brand endorsements. In 2016, he collaborated to launch his first sneaker, and the sports brand’s sales grew by a whopping $1.05 billion. His Curry sneakers grossed $160 million in their first year and are still growing.
3/12 Cardi B
Reebok entered into its first apparel collaboration with rapper Cardi B in April 2021. To get crowds excited about the launch, she sold a limited number of Reebok sneakers in a single color that ran out of stock within the first 18 hours. They made a total of $1.5 million. The collaboration with Let Me Be Enchanted was successful and Part II was released in July 2022.
2/12 Virgil Abloh
The late fashion designer Virgil Abloh was artistic director at Louis Vuitton until his death in 2021. Abloh had collaborated with Nike Air Force 1 to design 200 pairs of sneakers at LV. The sneakers went on sale in February 2022. Sotheby’s auctioned off each pair of sneakers, and they sold together for a whopping $25.3 million.
1/12 Travis Scott
The rapper has released sneaker lines with various brands, but his most memorable collaboration was with Air Jordan. His most expensive sneaker was a pair of Nike Air Force 1s, which went for a whopping $100,000. Scott makes $20 million annually from his brand endorsements, and the Nike deal helps him add $10 million to that total.
Other celebrity sneaker lines include Joe Freshgoods x New Balance, J Balvin x Air Jordan 2, and Bad Bunny x Adidas. These sneakers have raised millions for global brands and stars as these viable partnerships also open up opportunities for more celebrities to collaborate and embrace sneaker culture.
Sources: Forbes, Yahoo News, Complex, Bleacher Report
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