Drake basically changed the sneaker game forever when he posted those photos on Instagram back in 2016. It wasn't just a "hot drop" or a limited colorway. It was a pair of 24k gold OVO x Air Jordan 10s. Heavy. Like, actually heavy. Most people see a "gold" shoe and think metallic paint or maybe some patent leather with a shiny finish. Not this time. These were solid gold.
Matthew Senna is the artist behind them. He’s a legend in the conceptual art space, specifically for turning iconic sneakers into sculptures. When Drake commissioned these, the internet lost its mind. Why? Because they aren't wearable. You can't walk in them unless you want to break an ankle or destroy a several-hundred-thousand-dollar piece of art. They weigh about 50 pounds each. Imagine trying to do a crossover in those.
The Math Behind the Gold OVO x Air Jordan 10
Let’s talk numbers because that’s where things get wild. At the time of their creation, the estimated value was pinned at around $2 million. Now, gold prices fluctuate. It’s a commodity. But the craftsmanship alone—capturing every single stitch, the lace loops, and the pebbled leather texture of a standard Jordan 10 into solid 24k gold—is a feat of engineering.
People often confuse these with the "Champagne" or "Liquid Gold" packs that Nike actually released to the public. Those were just shiny sneakers you could buy at Foot Locker if you were lucky. The solid gold OVO x Air Jordan 10 is a one-of-one. It lives in Drake’s mansion, probably in that massive room with the "Embassy" branding. It’s more of a trophy than a shoe. It represents the peak of the OVO x Jordan Brand partnership, which, honestly, has had its ups and downs over the years.
Why the Jordan 10 Silhouette?
It's a weird choice if you think about it. The 10 isn't usually the favorite. Most heads go for the 1, the 3, the 4, or the 11. But for Drake, the 10 was the foundation of his Jordan deal. When OVO first signed, the white and black OVO 10s with the stingray leather were the hottest thing on the market. They had that translucent sole with the OVO owl peeking through. By making the gold version a 10, Senna and Drake were immortalizing the specific model that launched the partnership.
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The detail is insane. If you look closely at the photos, you can see the "Air Jordan" branding on the tongue and the Jumpman on the heel. It looks like someone took a real shoe and just midas-touched it into existence.
The Legacy of the OVO x Jordan Partnership
The relationship between Drake and Jordan Brand has been... complicated. Remember the rumors about him leaving for Adidas? Around 2018, everyone thought he was gone. He was wearing Three Stripes tracksuits. There were leaked images of OVO-branded Adidas sneakers. Then the Pusha T beef happened, "The Story of Adidon" dropped, and suddenly Drake was "checks over stripes" again.
The gold OVO x Air Jordan 10 stands as a relic of that "golden era" of their collaboration. It was a time when hype was at an all-time high, and Nike was willing to go to extreme lengths to keep their biggest non-athlete star happy.
- The weight: 50 lbs per shoe.
- The material: 24k Solid Gold.
- The artist: Matthew Senna.
- The cost: Roughly $1.9 to $2.1 million depending on the gold market.
Is it actually the most expensive sneaker?
Technically, yes and no. If you're talking about a "sneaker" as something you wear, then no. The Kanye West "Grammy" Air Yeezy 1s sold for $1.8 million at auction, and those are actual shoes. But as a sneaker-shaped object? The gold OVO x Air Jordan 10 takes the crown. It’s an art piece.
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There’s a common misconception that there are multiple pairs. There aren't. While Senna has made bronze and silver versions of other Jordans for various collectors, the 24k 10s are a singular commission.
How to Value "Hyper-Rare" Sneakers Today
If you're looking at the market today, things have shifted. We’re in an era of "utility" and "storytelling." The gold OVO x Air Jordan 10 was pure flex. It didn't need a story. It was gold.
Today’s collectors are looking for game-worn stuff or incredibly rare samples. But the OVO gold 10s set a precedent for what a "celebrity collab" could actually be. It wasn't just a color swap. It was a statement of wealth and status that hadn't been seen in the sneaker world before.
- Check the weight. If you see a "gold Jordan" and it’s light, it’s a custom paint job.
- Look at the texture. Senna’s work captures the "wrinkles" in the leather, which is incredibly hard to do in metal casting.
- Verify the source. Authentic OVO collaborations always have specific branding hits that are often missed by bootleggers.
Honestly, we might never see a collaboration this ridiculous again. The cost of gold has skyrocketed since 2016, and the trend has moved toward "deconstructed" looks—think Virgil Abloh and Off-White—rather than "over-constructed" luxury.
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What You Should Do If You're Investing in OVO Gear
Don't go looking for the gold 10s; you can't have them. But if you're hunting for OVO x Jordan's that actually hold value, stick to the "Friends and Family" pairs. The "Charles Oakley" Raptors PE or the "Kentucky" blue versions are the real grails for collectors now.
Keep an eye on the secondary markets like Sotheby’s or Christie’s. They’ve started treated sneakers like fine art, and that’s the only place you’ll see anything close to the gold OVO x Air Jordan 10.
Next Steps for Collectors:
- Research Matthew Senna’s other work to understand the value of metal-casted sneaker art; he often releases smaller, more affordable bronze runs.
- Monitor gold spot prices if you're interested in the "melt value" vs "art value" of high-end collectibles.
- Focus on the OVO 8s and 12s for wearable investments, as these models currently have a more stable price floor than the 10s on the resale market.