More than 340,000 pairs of Louboutin’s are sold annually, with prices ranging from $495 to an amount the man himself “refuses to reveal.” According to VF, custom-made shoes, like ones with a sole made entirely of rubies, can rise into the “high five figures.”

Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez are unabashed devotees, with Lopez going as far as naming her comeback single in the shoe’s honor. Lady Gaga, who wears her nude pumps everywhere, is quoted as saying, “The red soles remind me it is very important to be consistent in the work,” and Patti LaBelle humorously shares with the article’s author: “Girl, I once knew a lady who painted her own soles red—she was so pitiful.”

While leading ladies sing his praises in unison, Louboutin says he’s never pushed celebrities into wearing his shoes; he rarely gives pairs away and offers slim discounts at his stores. “Whether you’re talking about a celebrity or any female, the most important aspect of women is desire,” he says. “The woman needs to think: When can I have it? Ohhhh, I want it so badly, I can’t wait. If you take that away from a woman, you take away a lot.”