27 | Sneaker Con: The Kicks Controversy | Part I

Social media sensation and sneaker reseller Michael Malekzadeh helmed Zadeh Kicks, an online company that netted $6 million a month. He was at the top of his game until the U.S. Department of Justice accused Malekzadeh of running a Ponzi scheme. The unregulated sneaker reselling market is projected to reach $30 billion in sales by 2030 and everyone from common criminals, to Nike executives, to Michael Jordan’s own son have tried to secure their part of the bag. In part one of Sneaker Con, reporters David Gardner and Diana Moskovitz explore the collision of two of America’s favorite pastimes: basketball and the reckless pursuit of riches. Listen to Sports Explains the World on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/sports-explains-the-world/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.