The CEO won autographed gold Donald Trump sneakers after bidding for $13,000

US News

By Brielle Burns, News.com.au

A Russian CEO has won a signed pair of Donald Trump's new gold sneakers in an eye-watering auction.

Roman Scharf, founder and CEO of luxury watch dealer Luxury Bazaar, walked away with an autographed pair of Trump's gold-colored “Never Surrender Hi-Tops” for $9,000 in the winning bid at SneakerCon in Philadelphia.

During a surprise appearance at the event on Saturday, Trump announced the launch of the golden sneakers that will be part of his new shoe line.

In a video shared on social media, Sharf is shown laughing with members of the crowd as she shows 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 within two hours of their launch.

“We're going to have a victory celebration this November, and I'm going to wear one of these sneakers signed by Donald Trump,” Schurf said after the win. Times Now World.

She later shared on social media that she plans to eventually give the shoes to her children.

“But will show up at the office for now,” he wrote on X.

Born in the Soviet Union and based in Philadelphia, Scharf describes himself as “one of the world's largest gray market watch dealers” – trading luxury watches “without being endorsed by the brand on their behalf”.

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

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

“I've wanted to do this for a long time,” the Republican front-runner told the crowd.

“I've got some incredible people working with me on stuff and they came up with this, which I've been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. I think it's going to be a big hit.

His shoe line also features low-top styles in “T-Red” or “POTUS” white, both with a gold “45” on the side, which retail for $305 (US$199).

The website has a “Victory 47” perfume for $151 (US$99).

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

Ahead of the trial, the judge revoked the Trump Organization's business license — what prosecutors described as a “corporate death sentence” — after finding it liable for a major fraud claim by New York Attorney-General Letitia James.

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

“It's a complete turnaround from the last decision, and it's very favorable to Trump,” said real estate attorney Adam Leitman Bailey, who has sued Trump in the past.

“He ordered Trump to sell all of his New York properties within a short period of time, a monitor overseeing things without directing him what to do.”

The ruling bars Trump from serving as CEO of the Trump Organization or holding any top business office in the state, but the former president can appoint someone else to run the company at the time the business is new. York.