Steve Jobs's Birkenstock sandals fetched a record price at auction in New York. AP
Steve Jobs's Birkenstock sandals fetched a record price at auction in New York. AP
Steve Jobs's Birkenstock sandals fetched a record price at auction in New York. AP
Steve Jobs's Birkenstock sandals fetched a record price at auction in New York. AP

Business

Steve Jobs's well-worn Birkenstocks sell for $218,000

The Apple guru's footwear set a record for the highest price paid for a pair of sandals, Julien's Auctions said

Ian Oxborrow
Ian Oxborrow

November 16, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Apple founder Steve Jobs was well known for walking around with bare feet.

But when he did decide to put some footwear on, he often chose a pair of Birkenstock sandals, which have just sold at auction for $218,750.

“Steve Jobs wore these sandals during many pivotal moments in Apple’s history,” auction house Julien's Auctions said.

“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. When Jobs discovered the ingenuity and practicality of Birkenstocks, he became fascinated. Margot Fraser, who brought the brand to the United States was among Steve's first calls upon trying on the iconic sandal.”

The sandals are in a well-used condition and retain the imprint of Mr Jobs's feet.

The auction was estimated to have bids reaching $60,000 to $80,000, but eventually reached what Julien's Auctions said was a record for the highest price paid for a pair of sandals.

“The sandals were part of his simple side,” said his former partner Chrisann Brennan in an interview with Vogue.

Steve Jobs didn't feel like a businessman when he had his sandals on, his former partner said
Steve Jobs didn't feel like a businessman when he had his sandals on, his former partner said

“They were his uniform. The great thing about a uniform is that you don't have to worry about what to wear in the morning.

“He would never have done or bought anything just to stand out from others. He was simply convinced of the intelligence and practicality of the design and the comfort of wearing it. And in Birkenstocks, he didn't feel like a businessman, so he had the freedom to think creatively.”

The purchase of the sandals also included an exclusive NFT version of them.

Mr Jobs died of pancreatic cancer in 2011. He was 56 years old.

Memorabilia items have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars since his death.

In August, his original Apple-1 computer prototype sold at an auction for $677,196.

It was regarded as an example of the computer that started it all and was hand-soldered by Apple co-founder Mr Wozniak in 1976.

Other Apple items to sell in that auction included a Steve Jobs business card for $9,518, a 1983 Macintosh introduction plan and logo leaflet for $9,635, a Steve Jobs signed 1971 high school yearbook for $22,728 and a 1976 Apple tax exemption card signed by Mr Jobs for $26,095.

____________________________________

The rarest Apple product collection in the Middle East

Jimmy Grewal sits in front of the incredibly rare Apple I, the first personal computer sold by Apple in 1976. Cody Combs / The National
Jimmy Grewal sits in front of the incredibly rare Apple I, the first personal computer sold by Apple in 1976. Cody Combs / The National
Apple's first attempt at a laptop, the Macintosh Portable, from 1989. It weighed 7 kilograms, but its battery lasted from 6 to 12 hours. Cody Combs / The National
Apple's first attempt at a laptop, the Macintosh Portable, from 1989. It weighed 7 kilograms, but its battery lasted from 6 to 12 hours. Cody Combs / The National
Left to right: Apple I, Apple II, Apple Lisa, Macintosh 512k. Cody Combs / The National
Left to right: Apple I, Apple II, Apple Lisa, Macintosh 512k. Cody Combs / The National
A closeup of one of the first Macintosh models. Cody Combs / The National
A closeup of one of the first Macintosh models. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple II (serial #92) has no vents on the casing, making it very rare, unlike the Apple II on the left. Grewal says only approximately a dozen of these ventless Apple IIs remain in existence. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple II (serial #92) has no vents on the casing, making it very rare, unlike the Apple II on the left. Grewal says only approximately a dozen of these ventless Apple IIs remain in existence. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple II was purchased by the American School of Dubai in 1978. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple II was purchased by the American School of Dubai in 1978. Cody Combs / The National
This sticker, complete with typo, shows just how old this Apple II is. Cody Combs / The National
This sticker, complete with typo, shows just how old this Apple II is. Cody Combs / The National
The original 128k Macintosh sits on the top left of this portion of Grewal's Apple Collection. Also pictured just below is the 20th Anniversary Macintosh. Cody Combs / The National
The original 128k Macintosh sits on the top left of this portion of Grewal's Apple Collection. Also pictured just below is the 20th Anniversary Macintosh. Cody Combs / The National
Grewal's collection is still growing, prompting him to move computers to different locatins to make room. Cody Combs / The National
Grewal's collection is still growing, prompting him to move computers to different locatins to make room. Cody Combs / The National
Some of Apple's first attempts at "tower" Macintosh computers, like the Macintohs Quadra, are also in Grewal's collection. Cody Combs / The National
Some of Apple's first attempts at "tower" Macintosh computers, like the Macintohs Quadra, are also in Grewal's collection. Cody Combs / The National
No detail was too small for Grewal in presenting his the Apple products. These cabinets were colour matched to correspond with the original rainbow Apple logo. Cody Combs / The National
No detail was too small for Grewal in presenting his the Apple products. These cabinets were colour matched to correspond with the original rainbow Apple logo. Cody Combs / The National
Grewal's collection of Apple laptops, ranging from the Apple Duo to the Apple PowerBooks continues to grow. Cody Combs / The National
Grewal's collection of Apple laptops, ranging from the Apple Duo to the Apple PowerBooks continues to grow. Cody Combs / The National
This unusually large Apple product is a rare Apple Network Server. These ran a Unix-based operating system. Cody Combs / The National
This unusually large Apple product is a rare Apple Network Server. These ran a Unix-based operating system. Cody Combs / The National
The first Apple LaserWriter, manufactured in 1985, is one of several Apple printers in Grewal's collection. Cody Combs / The National
The first Apple LaserWriter, manufactured in 1985, is one of several Apple printers in Grewal's collection. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple Scribe printer utilized special thermal paper. The quality was poor and the printing was slow, but the thermal paper was an innovative idea at the time. Cody Combs / The National
This Apple Scribe printer utilized special thermal paper. The quality was poor and the printing was slow, but the thermal paper was an innovative idea at the time. Cody Combs / The National
Also in Grewal's collection is an Apple Interactive Television Box from 1994. It was never released. Cody Combs / The National
Also in Grewal's collection is an Apple Interactive Television Box from 1994. It was never released. Cody Combs / The National
It's not technically an Apple product, but this NeXT Cube was the computer created by Steve Jobs' company, "Next", after he was fired from Apple in 1985. It's shaped almost perfectly like a cube, was very powerful, but sold poorly. Cody Combs / The National
It's not technically an Apple product, but this NeXT Cube was the computer created by Steve Jobs' company, "Next", after he was fired from Apple in 1985. It's shaped almost perfectly like a cube, was very powerful, but sold poorly. Cody Combs / The National
In Grewal's other office, Apple product cases are used to prop up a coffee table, and various Apple artefacts and photos are displayed on the wall. Cody Combs / The National
In Grewal's other office, Apple product cases are used to prop up a coffee table, and various Apple artefacts and photos are displayed on the wall. Cody Combs / The National
This is a rarely used early rendition of the Apple logo. It's signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the often forgotten co-founder Ron Wayne. Cody Combs / The National
This is a rarely used early rendition of the Apple logo. It's signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the often forgotten co-founder Ron Wayne. Cody Combs / The National
Inside this original Macintosh 128k, you can see the molded signatures from the original Macintosh team, including the signature of Steve Jobs. Cody Combs / The National
Inside this original Macintosh 128k, you can see the molded signatures from the original Macintosh team, including the signature of Steve Jobs. Cody Combs / The National
An Apple Dot Matrix Printer, first introduced in 1982. Cody Combs / The National
An Apple Dot Matrix Printer, first introduced in 1982. Cody Combs / The National
This rare Apple I was the first product shipped by Apple in 1976. This particular Apple I in Grewal's Dubai collection still works. Cody Combs / The National
This rare Apple I was the first product shipped by Apple in 1976. This particular Apple I in Grewal's Dubai collection still works. Cody Combs / The National
This is an original Apple Lisa in Grewal's Dubai collection. It was the first Apple computer to have a graphical user interface. Grewal says approximately 20 of the original Lisa computers remain in the world. Cody Combs / The National
This is an original Apple Lisa in Grewal's Dubai collection. It was the first Apple computer to have a graphical user interface. Grewal says approximately 20 of the original Lisa computers remain in the world. Cody Combs / The National
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Engine: 2-litre

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 255hp

Torque: 273Nm

Price: Dh240,000

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Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Updated: November 16, 2022, 6:30 AM`
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