MoneyINC Logo
25+
Years of
Trust
13,000+
Articles
Written 
10M+
Annual 
Readers
300+
Global
Mentions

A Closer Look at the $25,000 Macklemore Cactus Air Jordan 6

Macklemore Cactus Air Jordan 6

The Air Jordan 6 was a popular sneaker on its own but when the name Macklemore was added to the brand, the frenzy and value of a very special limited edition collection rose to the ceiling. One pair was sold for as much as $25,000. It's hard for some to understand how a sneaker could possibly be valued so highly without so much as a gram of precious stones or precious metals embellishing the shoe. In case you're wondering how a shoe can go for such a high amount, we have the answers as we take a closer look at the $25,000 Macklemore Cactus Air Jordan 6, and discuss the many attributes that make it such a collectible item.

The history of the Macklemore Air Jordan 6 "Cactus"

There have been several celebrities receiving special editions of the Jordan Air brand shoes and so far, we haven't heard any complaints from them. The brand delivered a special edition of the Air Jordan 6 PE model shoes to Macklemore along with his friends and family. A total of 23 pairs were created in the Cactus and Clay colorways which were distributed to Macklemore in 2014. Macklemore decided who would receive the gifted sneakers which consisted of 11 pairs of Green Suede and 12 pairs of the Red Suede colorways, differentiated by the colorways "Cactus" for the green and "Clay" for the red.

A very special edition

The Cactus featured premium suede uppers in all green coloring. Wax laces were used and a signature Shark graphic, an icy blue sole, and a simple yet sophisticated appearance set these sneakers apart. The same materials and design were used for both iterations of the model with the only real difference being the colors. When news of their impending release hit there was a great deal of speculation and everyone wanted to know more about them, specifically when they would be made available to the public for sale. The internet was abuzz with such speculation, even knowing that they were designated as a friend and family release. It seems that there are always a few of these special editions that make their way onto the auction block one way or another.

What makes this sneaker so special?

Macklemore is known for his hard-hitting realism and he calls situations as he sees them, making no apologies. His song "Thrift Shop" seems to lend a bit of irony to the fact that he was gifted several pair of the sneakers that sold for $25,0000. Whenever a pair of these limited edition sneakers come up for sale, there is a high value on them for a number of reasons. The first is that they are extremely rare. With only 23 examples ever made, they're not a shoe that you can just go out and buy, at least not the Macklemore editions. The next influence on value is the popularity of the superstar. Fans are crazy about him and his music and his endorsement of the model makes it all the more valuable to people on a very emotional and personal level. They're well built and made of premium materials as a part of the Jordan Air line and when you combine all of these factors, you have the perfect combination of elements for a sneaker that is going to fetch high prices at auction. More recent iterations of the Jordan 6 line were produced in the fall of 2017 in a green colorway as well as a salmon.

The evolution of the Air Jordan 6

The special Cactus edition aside, the Air Jordan 6 line was released as an original in a white, red and black, a black with black and red, a sport blue-white with September blue and black, maroons and off white, and Carmines white and Carmine black colorways. In 2000, the Retro Air Jordan 6 was released in a variety of different colorways featuring navy, Red, White, Metallic Silver, Coral Rose, Black metallic Gold Red, Green and multiple color combinations. The first Air Jordan 6 was actually worn by Michael Jordan when he won his first NBA title as well as winning MVP, so it is an iconic shoe to begin with. The aeration at the toe which gives it breathability was a nice tweak as well as the visual appeal. For the average shopper, the prices of the models in the Air Jordan 6 collections generally retailed between as low as $105 up to $295, with the exception of the limited rare collectible Macklemore Cactus. It's not easy to find one of the rare examples for sale and if you do, it's likely to be offered for a starting bid that is in the thousands, but there are plenty more Air Jordans to choose from that won't break the bank.

Final thoughts

We've taken a long intense look at a sneaker that has made history within the Air Jordan brand. We've seen more and more special limited edition models surfacing with an interesting back story and history, such as the Macklemore, the DJ Khaled and many others that were a part of friends and family releases. The going price for somewhere between $10,000 to $30,000 is the value that bidders have established. These values tend to move upwards and downwards depending on the rarity of the model and the reasons behind the release. As collector's items, sneakers maintain as much value as any other rare piece with some going for $100,000 per pair and even more. When you consider the fact that both Michael Jordan and Macklemore endorse the Air Jordan 6 Cactus and Clay, there are good reasons to make the investment for an item that is likely to retain its monetary value as well as its sentimental appeal.

Dana Hanson

Written by Dana Hanson

Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. She also enjoys creative writing, content writing on nearly any topic (particularly business and lifestyle), because as a lifelong learner, she loves to do research and possess a high skill level in this area. Her academic degrees include AA social Sci/BA English/MEd Adult Ed & Community & Human Resource Development and ABD in PhD studies in Indust & Org Psychology.

Read more posts by Dana Hanson

Related Articles

Stay ahead of the curve with our most recent guides and articles on , freshly curated by our diligent editorial team for your immediate perusal.
As featured on:

Wealth Insight!
Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

Dive into the world of wealth and extravagance with Money Inc! Discover stock tips, businesses, luxury items, and travel experiences curated for the affluent observer.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram