Michael Jordan’s sneakers
Air Jordan 13 sneakers were the most unusual lot at Sotheby's auction last year. They were worn by Michael Jordan in the 1997–98 NBA season. They became a symbol of the triumph of the famous basketball player. In that historic season, playing against Utah, Michael Jordan made a decisive shot in the last moments of the match, which brought the Chicago Bulls victory. The legendary pair was sold for $2.2 million, breaking the previous record held by rapper Ye’s sneakers, the Nike Air Yeezy. They went under the hammer for $1.8 million.
Inverted Jenny
In 1918, a unique collection of stamps featuring the Jenny airplane was created to commemorate the launch of the US first permanent air mail. However, one batch of stamps was defective. The image of the airplane was upside down. Most (400 pieces) of these stamps were destroyed, but 100 of them were sold and then hunted by collectors. One of these rare stamps was sold in the spring of 2023 for more than $2 million.
Kurt Cobain’s jeans
These jeans were sold last year at an American auction for almost $413,000, which is forty times their initial price. Notably, they cannot be called ordinary. First, they belonged to Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the Nirvana band. The rocker wore them shortly before his death in April 1994 and was seen wearing them at the tenth MTV Awards. Secondly, the jeans have an unusual design. They are ripped in many places and decorated with colorful designer patches.
Spider sculpture
American sculptor Elise Bourgeois became famous for creating only giant spider sculptures for more than twenty years. One of them (from the famous series "Maman") was sold last year at Sotheby's auction for $32 million. The sculpture is a huge bronze spider, reaching a height of 3 meters. By the way, in 2011, auction house Christie's sold a similar spider, created by E. Bourgeois, for more than $28 million.
Tupac Shakur's ring
Tupac Shakur, one of the brightest stars of hip-hop, was known for his great passion for jewelry. The musician constantly wore a lot of jewelry, but he had a special love for a gold ring with precious stones, created by his own design. This accessory is adorned with T. Shakur's imprint and a unique engraving indicating his engagement to Kidada Jones. Last year, the unique ring went under the hammer at Sotheby's for over $1 million.
Economic inequality remains one of the most pressing issues in today's world. To measure the gap between the rich and the poor in each country, the Gini index is used. This coefficient reflects how income is distributed within a society: the closer the index is to 100, the greater the inequality. Let's explore which countries currently have the highest Gini index values
This year has been pivotal for Bitcoin, the world's leading cryptocurrency. One of the key milestones was the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In April 2024, Bitcoin also experienced a halving event, which is typically seen as a positive development for the digital asset. This year, the cryptocurrency is up 57%, and analysts remain optimistic about its future. However, they highlight four key factors that could influence Bitcoin's trajectory, both for better and for worse
Analytical periodical US News and World Report has presented its ranking of the best countries in the world in terms of quality of life, based on a survey of nearly 17,000 people. The list considers factors such as economic and political stability, a strong labor market, income equality, family-friendliness, safety, the quality of education, and healthcare systems. Let's find out which countries made it to the top of this list.
