The ten most expensive domain names ever

Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:12PM EDT

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This week, domain name broker Sedo sold the highly-desirable domain name pizza.com for the cool sum of $2.6 million. And while that's an impressive amount of money to pay for something that doesn't actually exist, it still doesn't quite crack the top ten list of most expensive domain names ever sold.

Here's the list as it stands today. Naturally, this list only reflects domains that have actually been resold. Domains like yahoo.com which are still in use by the original owner don't count, and they may indeed be far more valuable if they were ever to hit the market.

The Ten Most Expensive Domain Names Ever Sold

1. Sex.com, $12.5 million
2. Porn.com, $9.5 million
3. Diamond.com, $7.5 million
4. Business.com, $7.5 million
5. Casino.com, $5.5 million
6. Asseenontv.com, $5 million
7. Korea.com, $5 million
8. Wine.com, $3.3 million
9. Creditcheck.com, $3 million
10. Vodka.com, $3 million

Some obvious ones there (sex and porn are worth money, eh?), and some surprises: Asseenontv? Creditcheck? The conventional wisdom holds that single-word domains are the most valuable domains, but exceptions abound.

I spoke to Sedo COO Jeremiah Johnston and he noted that there are a dozen variables that go into the value of a domain name, including length, memorability, and the competitive landscape for similar domains. (I wonder what Diamonds.com is worth.) He also thinks the market for domains will continue to go up, but of course, that's his job. Got a million-dollar domain you're sitting on? Maybe the time is right to look for a buyer.

Comments on The ten most expensive domain names ever

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  • 7 Posted by tomfrostad on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Paying for something that does not exist. Its a whole new world of deceit

  • 8 Posted by thisismyname31 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    What about http://tinyurl.com/2ngp5c (free site to earn some cash)

  • 11 Posted by joseymartha07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Lack of originiallity in part. can't think of another name so you buy one. the domain isnt all, its the content that's most important. i just dont understand how someone would be willing to spend so much money on something as simple as a domain

  • 13 Posted by rapmetal47 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    How funny. Thank you for a great article.

  • 14 Posted by gxermobile on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    WebmasterJournal.com will do better for sure

  • 15 Posted by www_travellersoz_com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dear Sirs / Madams, I am looking for Websites that list Domain Names for sale, free or small nominal fee, as well as separately : individual or portfolio appraisals valuations estimates of my ( Jeff M. Weeks / contacts@travellersoz.com.au ) 9 travel tourism hospitality / business, orientated domain names :- 61.com.au (61 Australia Telephone International Country Code) 61oz.com 44gb.com oz61.com e-posts.biz travelsoz.com travelersoz.com e-postoffices.com business-migration.com business-migration.net KEYWORDS : my existing Website/s http://www.travellersoz.com & http://www.travellersoz.com.au ( since 1996 ) :- Internet, Marketing, Online, Advertising, Country, City, Contacts, Travelers, Singles, International, Networks, Travel, Tourism, Indexes, Directories, Listings, World, Wide, Countries, Regions, Oceanics, Offline, eCommerce, Visitors, Budget, Holidays, Accomodations, Activities, Attractions, Bookings, Australia, Sydney, Olympic, Games, South Australia, Flinders, Ranges, Wine, Steam, Trains, Locomotives, Dirt, Circuit, Racing, China, Tong Sing, Horoscopes, Codes, Heritage, Walks, Backpackers, Hostels, Interactive, Websites, epals, penpals, Friendships

  • 16 Posted by pam.randle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE DOMAINS JUST WANT TO LET YOU NO I ENJOY YOUR WEB SITE ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU

  • 20 Posted by bavishicpa on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    And I've never been to a single one of those domains.

  • 23 Posted by spacecon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Back in the 80's I owned a non-profit company with initials M.I.T. and owned the domain: mit.com - The University, MIT, descended on me with a phalanx of lawyers and scared the heck out of me, forcing me to sell it them at a pittance or be sued roundly and forcibly lose it. That was despite the fact that I had actually contacted their WebMaster earlier to ask if it would be a problem for MIT. Naievely, I chickened out and let them have it. I was, IMHO, screwed.. Anyone know a good Domain lawyer? TM (nobenefits[at]juno.com)

  • 24 Posted by zolotaya_devochka on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not accurate. www.irs.com was sold for over $8M to a company called InterSearch (now Banks.com)

  • 25 Posted by jones_mm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris you forgot to mention fund.com that just sold for ten million last month

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