Esquivel selling $40,000 shoes

BUENA PARK, Calif., March 6 (UPI) -- California-based luxury shoemaker George Esquivel has broken a price barrier for men's footwear with a pair selling for $40,200.

The shoes, custom-made for a foreign businessman, sport ruby, diamond and gold buckles, The Orange County (Calif.) Register reported. The buckles can also be used for cuff links.

Esquivel grew up poor in Southern California and once worked as a truck driver. Now he sells shoes to the likes of Kevin Costner and Drew Carey, people who can afford to pay several hundred dollars or more for style and comfort.

Business has been good in spite of the recession. He told the Register he expects income at Esquivel Worldwide to double this year.

"I try to build a recession-proof business," he said. "I don't need 10,000 people to buy my shoes to have a good year."