Introduction

Have you ever wondered how a simple combination of letters and numbers could be worth millions of dollars? Welcome to the world of domain name investing, where owning a valuable domain name can lead to big paydays. In this post, we’ll explore the top 50 most expensive domain name sales and dive into why these domains were worth so much money.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the address people use to find your website on the internet. It’s like the street address for your online home. For example, the domain name for Google is “google.com”. Domain names are made up of two parts: the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the part after the dot, such as .com, .org, or .net. The SLD is the part before the dot, which can be anything you choose (as long as it’s available).

How Are Domains Valued?

The value of a domain name depends on a variety of factors, including its length, popularity, age, and the demand for it. One of the most important factors is the domain’s potential for generating traffic and revenue. A domain name that receives a lot of traffic and has a high potential for monetization can be worth a lot of money.

Read our complete guide how to evaluate domains!

TOP 50 most valuable domain names sold

The Top 50 Most Expensive Domain Names Sold

Here are the top 50 most expensive domain names sold, along with the amount they were sold for:

1. CarInsurance.com — $49.7 million – 2010/11/08
2. Insurance.com — $35.6 million – 2010/08/10
3. VacationRentals.com — $35 million – 2007
4. PrivateJet.com — $30.18 million – 2012
5. Voice.com — $30 million – 2019/05/30
6. Internet.com — $18 million – 2009/08/10
7. 360.com — $17 million – 2016/22/03
8. Insure.com — $16 million – 2009/10/09
9. NFTs – $15 million – 2022/07/31
10. Sex.com — $14 million – 2005/01/01
11. Sex.com — $13 million – 2010/11/24
12. Hotels.com — $11 million – 2001
13. Tesla.com – $11 million – 2016
14. Ai.com – $11 million – 2023 (newest domain sale) bought by OpenAI.com
15. Connect – $10 million – 2022/04/15
16. Fund.com — $9.99 million – 2008/03/11
17. Porn.com — $9.5 million – 2007/06/05
18. Shoes.com — $9 million
19. Porno.com — $8.8 million – 2015/02/04
20. Fb.com — $8.5 million – 2010/01/01
21. HealthInsurance.com – $8.13 million – 2019/07/31
22. We.com — $8 million – 2015/06/19
23. Diamond.com — $7.5 million – 2006/05/23
24. Beer.com — $7 million – 2004/01/01
25. Z.com — $6.8 million – 2014/12/03
26. Slots.com — $5.5 million – 2010/06/04
27. Casino.com — $5.5 million – 2003/11/01
28. It.com — $3.8 million – 2022/06/19
29. Hg.com — $3.77 million – 2016/11/27
30. Mi.com — $3.6 million – 2014/04/30
31. Ice.com – $3.5 million – 2018/07/06
32. Shop.com — $3.5 million – 2003/11/01
33. Hippo.com — $3.3 million – 2021/04/20
34. Wine.com — $3.3 million – 2003/09/01
35. AltaVista.com — $3.25 million – 1999/04/01
36. Software.com — $3.2 million -2005/12/01
37. Christmas.com – $3.15 million – 2020/11/30
38. Floor.com – $3.144 million – 2021/09/20
39. Whisky.com — $3.1 million – 2014/03/12
40. Help.com — $3 million – 2023/01/10
41. Asap.com — $3 million – 2021/12/17
42. California.com — $3 million -2019/01/20
43. Candy.com — $3 million – 2009/06/10
44. Sex.xxx — $3 million – 2014/06/11
45. Vodka.com — $3 million – 2006/12/20
46. Loans.com – $3 million – 2000/01/01
47. Fly.com – $2.9 million – 2017/04/04
48. CreditCards.com – $2.75 million – 2000/02/01
49. Lotto.com – $2.68 million – 2017/12/31
50. Pizza.com – $2.6 million – 2008/04/03

Notice: These are public sales, there are many more in private!

It’s important to note that the domain names on this list represent the most expensive publicly sold domain names. Private domain sales, which are not disclosed to the public, can often fetch even higher prices. For example, the sale of Voice.com for $30 million, which is the fifth highest publicly reported sale, was actually a private sale that involved the blockchain platform Block.one. Private sales can sometimes involve additional terms and assets beyond just the domain name itself, which can drive up the sale price. So while these public sales are impressive, they only represent a small portion of the overall domain name market, which can involve many more expensive transactions that we may never know about.

Read our article about the most expensive domain names sold in 2022!

49/50 are .com domains

It’s worth noting that all of the domain names on this list, except for sex.xxx, were sold with the .com extension. This speaks to the enduring popularity and value of the .com extension, which has been the most widely used TLD since the early days of the internet. While other TLDs such as .net, .org, and country-specific TLDs like .uk and .de are also popular, the .com extension has become synonymous with the internet itself, and is often the default choice for businesses and individuals looking to establish a strong online presence. The high prices paid for these .com domain names demonstrate that the extension is still the gold standard for online branding and marketing. For example, CarInsurance.com sold for a whopping $49.7 million, a testament to the enduring value of the .com extension.

How to evaluate your domain?

Discovering the true value of your domain name has never been easier, thanks to the Estibot tool. This AI-powered platform offers quick, accurate, and insightful domain appraisals with just a few clicks. Simply visit www.estibot.com, enter your domain name, and hit “Appraise.” Within seconds, Estibot will generate an estimated value in US dollars, based on factors like comparable domain sales, search volume, and keyword cost-per-click. With this information at your fingertips, you’ll be well-equipped to make informed decisions about buying, selling, or retaining your digital real estate. Don’t leave your domain’s worth to chance—let Estibot illuminate its true potential.

Where does this data come from?

Namebio.com

To have a bigger image on all domain name sales check namebio.com . They have a comprehensive database with millions of sales from different marketplaces. You can look up sales by keyword, price range and even region. It’s an invaluable resource for any domain investor and helps to give you a bigger picture on the entire domain industry.

With Namebio, you can also set up alerts so that you get notified when there are new sales that fit your criteria. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date on the domain industry and to identify potential opportunities. Additionally, you can also purchase expired domains right from Namebio as they offer an extensive selection of both recently expired and auctioned domains.

DNJournal.com

Another great resource is DNJournal.com. It’s the go-to source for all things related to domain name industry news. DNJournal covers the latest sales, new gTLD launches, new registrars and more. They also provide weekly sales lists that give you a breakdown of the biggest domain sales by category.

It’s great for keeping track of trends in the domain world and can be a valuable source of inspiration for creative domain traders. Additionally, DNJournal also offers services such as domain appraisals, consulting and auctioning if you’re looking to move domains quickly.

Final Thoughts

These are just some of the most expensive domain names ever sold. You can see that most of these domains are related to business, finance, or travel industries – all key areas for potential online success. It’s also interesting to note that they tend to be short, memorable words with potential branding potential.

Whether you’re looking to buy a domain or just curious about the most expensive ones ever sold, this list of most expensive domains provides some great insight into what it takes to make a successful investment in virtual real estate.