The resale of domains has always been big business. Domain investors who buy and sell domain names for profit have been active since the early days of the Internet, with little sign of slowing down. The acquisition of chat.com in 2023 for an estimated $15.5 million by OpenAI (DN Journal) proves that domain names alone continue to be valuable assets.
So where does the purchase of chat.com sit on the list of highest domain names ever sold?
As of the date this article was published, these domains have been confirmed to be the most expensive acquisitions of all time according to Namebio.com.
- voice.com (2019): $30,000,000 USD
- chat.com (2023): $15,500,000
- nfts.com (2022): $15,500,000
- rocket.com (2024): $14,000,000
- sex.com (2005): $14,000,000
- sex.com (2010): $13,000,000
- connect.com (2022): $10,000,000
- porn.com (2007): $9,500,000
- porno.com (2015): $8,888,888
- gold.com (2024): $8,515,000
Top selling domains for 2024
Moving beyond all-time best sellers, here are some top-selling domains for 2024:
- rocket.com: $14,000,000
- gold.com: $8,515,000
- shift.com: $1,365,000
- tp.com: $1,200,000
- koko.com: $1,000,000
The sale of gold.com for a whopping $8,515,000 in March highlights the value of a domain that perfectly complements a brand’s core business – in this case, facilitating direct-to-consumer sales of gold.
Other notable entries breaking the million-dollar mark include shift.com, snapped up for $1,365,000 by Canadian web browser company Shift during a bankruptcy sale (namePros). This demonstrates the potential for established brands to acquire a relevant domain at a strategic moment in time. In a similar move, digital business services company Teleperformance, or TP, paid $1,200,000 for the tp.com domain (DomainInvesting).
Investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
When you consider top-level domains (TLD) beyond .com, some broader trends are shaping the resale market in 2024. Growing interest and investment in AI was evident with .ai domains leading the charge as the most common ‘non .com’ domain to hit the top 100 list for 2024.
Top 5 .ai domains
- sound.ai*: $250,000
- girlfriend.ai: $170,000
- golf.ai: $140,000
- win.ai: $130,000
- blueprint.ai: $130,000
Going all-in with online gambling
As online betting becomes legal in more locations, betting related domains continue to rise in value. Bet.bet* sold for $600,000 with domains like poker.world*, lightbet.com and more making the top 100 list as well.
Top 5 gambling domains
- Bet.bet*: $600,000
- Casino.bet*: $200,000
- luck.io*: $144,261
- 69bet.com: $140,000
- win.ai: $130,000
The Untapped Potential of Descriptive Domains
While short descriptive .com domains become increasingly rare, there is more opportunity to find value in descriptive top-level domains beyond .com. As top-level domains in emerging markets like .bet and .ai increase in demand, the landscape of potential high-value domains increases. In 2023, your.ai became one of the highest selling non .com domains in recent years with a $700,000 price tag (DomainInvesting).
The domain name market remains a dynamic landscape, constantly evolving with trends and technologies. While multi-million dollar sales capture headlines, there’s room for everyone. Do you have an eye for valuable domains? There’s an entire world of domain investing waiting to be explored. You can start by exploring premium and expiring domains on the Name.com aftermarket domain name search.
* – Name.com’s parent company Identity Digital is the official registry of this TLD.
Dark mode
Let's keep in touch.
You can opt out at any time. By clicking “Subscribe”, you agree that you have read, understand, and consent to the Privacy Policy with regards to the use of your personal data