With his birthday being on October 17, 1972, Eminem turns 54 this month. He’s been in the public eye since the late ‘90s, giving him plenty of time to build a truly enviable rotation.
And he hasn’t been shy to rap about it. Eminem has arguably some of the most memorable sneaker lyrics out there, with bars like ‘He came to the ball in his wife-beater, lost his Nike shoe’ (Cinderella Man 2010) and ‘Khakis pressed, Nike shoes crispy and fresh laced’ (Berzerk 2013).
A recent Instagram post from @djaycue highlights some of the iconic kicks worn by Slim, and fans had a few favorites of their own:
@wigington_15: “Carhartt 4’s or Shady Records 97’s 🤌🏽🤌🏽”
@dougsharp1988: “The Em Jordan 4’s are 🔥🔥”
@balldee69: “Superbowl 3’s……..not even an argument”
Earlier this year, the rapper put his closet up for auction. 117 hand-signed pairs went to Julien’s Auctions, with every dollar going to the Marshall Mathers Foundation — his NPO that helps disadvantaged youth in Detroit. Eminem put the total at about $400,000.
So, let’s look at some of the pairs that have given Slim his sneakerhead status and unpack the lore surrounding his epic rotation.
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Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Encore’ (2004): The Rare Friends-and-Family Pair
Nike was making Eminem-themed sneakers as early as 2004. To mark the release of Encore, his fourth major-label studio album, the brand created several friends-and-family pairs of the Air Force 1 Low.
The sneakers came in a Black, Grey, and White color scheme. One pair featured the Shady Records logo on the heel and Eminem’s name across the forefoot. Another had ‘ENCORE’ stitched into the back.
Availability: These were never sold at retail and are considered true collectors’ items. They rarely surface, and none were listed in Slim’s 2026 charity auction.
Air Jordan 4 ‘Encore’ (2005): Eminem’s First Jordan and Its Pulled 2027 Release
Eminem’s first Jordan came dressed in Deep Royal Blue suede with Red, Grey, and Black accents. The name ‘Eminem’ appeared on the tongue instead of ‘Air Jordan.’
The AJ4 ‘Encore’ came close to being Jordan Brand’s first-ever collaboration, but the Undefeated 4 got there first. Only about 50 pairs are believed to have been made in 2005 as gifts for Eminem’s friends and family to mark the album’s release.
In 2017, another 23 pairs were made to celebrate his Revival album. Rather than being sold, they were distributed through a charity campaign, with proceeds going to the Marshall Mathers Foundation.
Availability: Neither release was available at retail. Complex reported that a public release was planned for May 2027, but the pair has since reportedly been pulled from the calendar, and Eminem’s manager, Paul Rosenberg, answered “Nope” to the retail reports. Sneaker Bar Detroit’s update lists it as cancelled. For now, pairs occasionally appear on resale platforms, where prices can reach five figures. A signed pair from the 2017 run also reportedly sold at Eminem’s 2026 auction for $19,200, including buyer’s premium.
Carhartt x Air Jordan 4 (2015): Eminem’s Detroit Collab and Its $227,552 Charity Auction
Carhartt and Eminem have something in common: they’re both from Detroit. This 2015 collab gave the classic AJ4 silhouette:
- A black Carhartt twill upper with chrome accents
- Waxed laces
- Leather interior
- A translucent outsole.
The limited-edition shoe reached the public through a charity auction on eBay that raised $227,552 for the MSU Community Music School-Detroit, with only about 10 pairs made. It’s regularly cited as one of the most expensive Jordans of all time.
Availability: Another shoe that was never sold at retail, but resale pairs have gone for $20,000 to $30,000 in the past. Two pairs (hand-signed with a gold marker) also appeared in Eminem’s 2026 Julien’s auction but neither reportedly sold.
Air Jordan 3 ‘Slim Shady’ PE (2022): The $51,200 Super Bowl Sneaker
Eminem wore these custom Air Jordan 3s during the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022, performing alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.
The Black, White and Red sneakers feature Eminem’s ‘E’ logo on the tongue in place of the usual Jumpman. There’s also a rubber ‘Hi! My name is…’ name tag on the heel, a nod to one of his best-known songs.
Fans haven’t forgotten about these shoes. As @balldee69 said on @djaycue’s post: “Superbowl 3’s……..not even an argument.”
Availability: These player-exclusive sneakers (only 45 pairs were made) were never released in stores. Two pairs sold for $51,200 each (including buyer’s premium) at Eminem’s 2026 auction, giving collectors an ultra-rare chance to own them.
Nike Air Max 90 (2024): Eminem’s Soundstorm Stage Sneaker
Eminem has worn plenty of Jordans over the years, but his footwear choice at the 2024 Soundstorm Music Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was a little different. He took the stage in a pair of all-white Nike Air Max 90s.
The shoes weren’t a special collaboration or a limited-edition release. They were standard Air Max 90s, a reminder that not every pair in Eminem’s rotation needs to be a rare exclusive.
Availability: Regular Air Max 90s are available from Nike and other major retailers. Eminem’s signed, stage-worn pair was listed as Lot 1 in his 2026 auction and reportedly sold for $22,400 (including buyer’s premium).
More Eminem Sneakers Worth Knowing: Auction Lots and Charity Releases
Here are a few other pairs from Eminem’s sneaker history that deserve a mention:
- Charity Air Max Series (2006): Eight Air Max designs (with just eight pairs of each) were created for a charity fundraiser benefiting the Marshall Mathers Foundation and NineMillion.org.
- Air Max 90 ‘Ice Halloween’: A signed pair featured in Eminem’s 2026 auction.
- Air Max Hyperfuse ‘Independence Day’: Another signed Air Max included in the 2026 sale.
- Nike Air Max Wrights: Several pairs also appeared in the auction.
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Eminem’s Sneaker Collection and Charity Legacy
From rare Jordans to Air Maxes worn on stage, Eminem has built up a sneaker collection with plenty of history behind it.
His 2026 auction gave fans a chance to own some of those pairs, while raising money for the Marshall Mathers Foundation. Not a bad way to pass on a few pieces from the Slim Shady archives.
And in his 50s, Slim still proves to be one of the most stylish and generous A-list celebs out there. Happy birthday for October 17, Eminem!
