The Story Behind $999.99 iPhone Apps
The maximum price of an App Store app is $999.99, and yes, some cost that much. Mike Wehner, writing for TUAW, reveals that some of those expensive apps are an elaborate scam to rig App Store rankings. The scam works by bumping up an app’s price to $999.99, having a second party buy multiple copies — which moves the app near the head of the Top Grossing list — and then, with the increased attention, lowering the app’s price to a reasonable figure and raking in the sales. But other developers, like Sergiy Grachov, who sells his Fleas game for $999.99, do it simply because users keep buying.
I don't believe the scam has much to do with manipulating the App Store rankings. Rather, it's all about money laundering.
for a 30% fee? Cheaper and easier ways to do it than that, I am sure.