Shaping culture and breaking barriers
Truman Capote's ashes were sold at auction for $43,750. As Capote wished, whoever ended up with his ashes would have to bring them to parties and events afterwards!
See also: The craziest alternative burial methods
A pair of shoes Kanye West wore during his performance at the 2008 Grammys sold for a whopping US$1.8 million in a private sale, according to Sotheby's. West famously wore the Nike shoes, which he co-designed, when he performed 'Hey Mama' and 'Stronger.' The seven-figure sale price completely shatters the record for the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold, which was previously set by the pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan 1s that Michael Jordan wore when he broke a backboard during a preseason game in Italy, TMZ reports.
Kanye and Mark Smith designed the size 12 "Grammy worn" shoes, which combined the classic Nike Swoosh with the Yeezy signature forefoot strap and a bright pink "Y" medallion lace lock. They're the first pair of sneakers to sell for over US$1 million, though Sotheby's reported that the buyer is RARES, a sneaker investment marketplace, so the shoes may well sell again in the future at a higher price.
The iconic outfit Janet Jackson wore in her 1993 award-winning 'If' music video was put up for auction, and the highest bidder turned out to be none other than Kim Kardashian! The custom-made top with a pair of black pants sold for US$25,000 as part of the 'Iconic Treasures From the Legendary Career and Life of Janet Jackson’ auction which was held over three days and concluded on Jackson’s birthday on May 16. All proceeds from the sales went to Compassion International, a charity that that helps children escape poverty.
A number of personal items that belonged to the late great Betty White went up for auction at Julien's. The legendary comedic actress passed away on December 31, 2021, at the age of 99. Her incredible career spanned eight decades, and mementos from each decade are going up for sale. The items included an engraved gold watch given to her mother, a script from the final episode of 'Golden Girls' signed by the cast, and her American Comedy Award. There were also many of her iconic outfits and a range of paintings, both of animals and by animals. White was a great lover of animals and pets. She collected paintings made by highly intelligent animals and owned two artworks by Koko, a famous gorilla who could communicate using sign language. Julien's auction house described the event as "an auction representing an incredible life and career."
Nelson's famous braids were sold at auction for $37,000 in 2014.
Arguably Kurt Cobain's most famous guitar, the blue 1969 Fender Mustang featured in Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' video, was put up for auction with an estimated bid of US$600,000 but ended up selling for much, much more. The guitar, which was also used in recording sessions for the band's 'Nevermind' and 'In Utero' albums went for a staggering US$4.5 million!
The instrument was auctioned off at Julien's on May 22, 2022, to the Jim Irsay Collection (the Indianapolis Colts owner) after what was reportedly a major bidding war, according to TMZ. Proceeds from the sale went to both Cobain's estate and charity, including support of Mental Health Awareness Month and the Kicking the Stigma organization.
Nicole Kidman took a turn as the highest bidder for her friend and former co-star Hugh Jackman's hat from his Broadway revival of 'The Music Man.' Following the show, there was an auction for the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and Kidman made her presence known when she bid a cool US$100,000 for the signed hat. Jackman shared a video of the moment at the Winter Garden Theater on Twitter in which Kidman takes the mic following a standing ovation and says, “I love you. I love Broadway. And I love what they do, Broadway Cares, but I also want to say this show is extraordinary." Jackman then took the mic and said, “I’ve known Nic for almost 30 years. I’ve worked with her. I can tell you this is not a surprise to me. She is one of the most generous souls I know." The foundation shared on Instagram that Kidman's donation in honor of her fellow Aussie will equate to "20,000 meals and 2,000 doctor visits this holiday season for those living with HIV/AIDS, struggling with COVID-19 or facing other life-threatening challenges."
Sotheby's auction house hosted its Royal and Noble Sale on January 17, 2023, offering up fascinating memorabilia from royal history. One of the most coveted items to be auctioned was the Attallah Cross, a large amethyst cross on a long pearl necklace which was worn by the late Princess Diana. It was owned by her friend Naim Attallah who loaned it to her many times. He passed away in 2021 and his family put the exceptional piece of jewelry up for auction.
It was predicted to sell for between US$100,00 and US$150,000, but after a five-minute bidding war between four buyers, it was sold to none other than Kim Kardashian for US$202,490.
The actress's 1954 chest X-ray was sold at an auction in Las Vegas for $45,000.
Celebrity items are often put up for auction in order to raise money for NGOs and foundations, and sometimes they're simply sold to the highest bidder because they're seen as valuable cultural artifacts.
Princess Diana's historic, beloved red sweater adorned with a flock of white sheep and a single black sheep has gone on view alongside Buckingham Palace letters at Sotheby's on July 17, 2023, in London, and will soon head to Sotheby’s Inaugural Fashion Icons Sale in New York this September with an estimate of fetching US$50,000-80,000 (£40,000-70,000).
The 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer first wore the sweater to a polo match in 1981 shortly after her engagement to then-Prince Charles, boosting designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, who made the sweater for their small knitwear label Warm & Wonderful. A few weeks later they reportedly received an official letter from Buckingham Palace explaining that Diana had damaged the sweater and asking whether it could be repaired or replaced. A new sweater was made and Diana wore it with white jeans and a black ribbon tie at an event in 1983. Many speculated Diana was so tied to the "black sheep" pattern due to how she felt like an outsider in the royal family.
Click through to see the other celebrity items—from used tissues to kidney stones—for which people have paid eye-watering amounts of money.
All amounts in USD.
Celebrity items put up for auction
Princess Diana's iconic "black sheep" sweater estimated to fetch at least US$50,000 at auction
CELEBRITY Famous
Celebrity items are often put up for auction in order to raise money for NGOs and foundations, and sometimes they're simply sold to the highest bidder because they're seen as valuable cultural artifacts.
Princess Diana's historic, beloved red sweater adorned with a flock of white sheep and a single black sheep has gone on view alongside Buckingham Palace letters at Sotheby's on July 17, 2023, in London, and will soon head to Sotheby’s Inaugural Fashion Icons Sale in New York this September with an estimate of fetching US$50,000-80,000 (£40,000-70,000).
The 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer first wore the sweater to a polo match in 1981 shortly after her engagement to then-Prince Charles, boosting designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, who made the sweater for their small knitwear label Warm & Wonderful. A few weeks later they reportedly received an official letter from Buckingham Palace explaining that Diana had damaged the sweater and asking whether it could be repaired or replaced. A new sweater was made and Diana wore it with white jeans and a black ribbon tie at an event in 1983. Many speculated Diana was so tied to the "black sheep" pattern due to how she felt like an outsider in the royal family.
Click through to see the other celebrity items—from used tissues to kidney stones—for which people have paid eye-watering amounts of money.
All amounts in USD.