Russian CEO wins autographed golden Donald Trump sneakers after $9K bid

A Russian CEO has won an autographed pair of Donald Trump’s new golden sneakers after making an eye-watering bid.

Roman Sharf, the founder and CEO of luxury watch dealer, Luxury Bazaar, walked away with an autographed pair of Trump’s golden “Never Surrender high-tops” after placing a winning bid of $9,000 at Philadelphia’s Sneaker Con.

Trump announced the launch of the golden sneakers, which are part of his new shoe line, during a surprise appearance at the event on Saturday.

A video shared on social media shows Sharf smiling and speaking to members of the crowd as he showed off the golden sneakers after outbidding other buyers.

The shoes, which feature an American flag detail on the back, cost $399.

Limited to just 1000 pairs, the sneakers reportedly sold out less than two hours after the launch.

“We are going to have a winning celebration come this November, and I’ll be wearing these one-of-one Donald Trump-signed sneakers,” Sharf said after winning, according to Times Now World.

He later shared on social media he plans to eventually pass the shoes down to his children.

“But for now will display in the office,” he wrote on X.

Sharf, who was born in the Soviet Union and lives in Philadelphia, describes himself as “one of the world’s biggest grey market watch dealers” – which trades luxury watches “without being authorised by the brand to do so on their behalf”.

His business employs 30 staff and generates about $130 million in sales annually, he told WatchPro.

Trump was met with loud boos and cheers from the crowd when he introduced the shoe line on Saturday.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” the Republican frontrunner told the crowd.

“I have some incredible people that work with me on things, and they came up with this, and this is something I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. I think it’s gonna be a big success.”

His shoe line also includes a low-top style in either “T-Red” or “POTUS” white, both with a golden “45” on the side, which sell for $305 (US$199).

The website also features “Victory 47” perfume for $151 (US$99).

The announcement came after the former president was ordered by a New York judge to pay $544.5 million (US$355 million) for allegedly inflating his net worth to dupe banks and insurers.

Prior to trial, the judge had yanked Trump’s business license for the Trump Organization – issuing what attorneys described as the “corporate death penalty” – after finding him liable for New York Attorney-General Letitia James’ main claim of fraud.

But in Friday’s ruling, Judge Engoron reinstated Trump’s “business certificates” – and left it up to a third-party monitor to oversee the former President’s prized assets, such as Midtown’s Trump Tower and other iconic New York properties.

“This is a complete reversal from the last decision, and it is much more palatable for Trump,” said real estate lawyer Adam Leitman Bailey, who has sued Trump in the past.

“He went from ordering Trump to potentially have to sell all of his New York assets within a short amount of time, to just having a monitor oversee things without giving her direction on what she’s supposed to do.”

The ruling also bars Trump from being the CEO of Trump Organization – or holding any top business office in the state – for three years, but the ex-President could appoint someone else to run the company during that time, with the business staying in New York.