Spike Lee’s Golden Jordan 3s Up for Auction After Ending up in Homeless Shelter

The stylish gold sneakers have been put up for auction and will likely go for nearly $20,000.

Director Spike Lee’s all-gold Air Jordans have been put up for auction in Oregon after they were anonymously donated to a shelter. Available until Monday, Dec 18, the Jordans could possibly go for $20,000.

The gold Nike shoes were found in the donation pile at the Portland Rescue Mission earlier this year. After they were dropped into the chute, a man who was formerly homeless but is now a part of the Rescue Mission’s long-term shelter program found them while they sorting through the donated materials. He brought them to the attention of the shelter staff since he recognized the iconic sneakers.

According to Apple News, the Air Jordan 3s were a size 12 1/2, and the gold Nikes were one of several custom pairs that were made for Malcolm X filmmaker Spike Lee. Legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield created them for Lee in 2019 who wore them when accepting his Oscar for writing BlacKkKlansmen‘s screenplay on Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Portland Rescue Mission said that the donated pair of sneakers didn’t seem like Lee’s personal pair but that he had a few made to give out to his friends.

Hatfield took a trip to the shelter and authenticated the gold Jordans as real. He signed a box for the shoes to be auctioned off and even donated more Nike apparel and merchandise.

“I’m thrilled the shoes ended up here. It’s a happy ending to a really great project,” Hatfield said.

The shoes are currently on auction and listed to bid on at Sotheby’s Auction house until Dec. 18. Sotheby’s has agreed to waive the auction house fee and will donate all proceeds to the shelter to aid in its mission to help people facing homelessness, substance abuse, and hunger.