Most expensive celebrity memorabilia sold at auction: From Michael Jackson’s glove to Kate Winslet’s ‘Titanic’ dress

10 celebrity memorabilia sold for unbelievable prices at auction: Audrey Hepburn’s dress to Kurt Gobain’s guitar

A horde of collectors will do practically everything to acquire legendary objects of pop culture because of their enduring allure. Elvis Presley's famed Graceland estate is about to go up for foreclosure auction. His granddaughter Riley Keough has launched a contentious court battle, calling the impending sale "fraudulent". Keough is "traumatized" by what has transpired, a source told the New York Post, and "never thought that a historic piece of property could even be considered to go into the hands of any random stranger." Look back at some of the most prized props, costumes, instruments, and other artifacts that have been sold at auctions over the years.

1. Audrey Hepburn's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' dress

Audrey Hepburn's classic Givenchy dress from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' shattered expectations at a 2006 Christie's auction, where it was expected to sell for as little as £50,000 (approximately $63,322). But the official sale price of the sleeveless black satin gown that Hepburn wore as Holly Golightly—and later, Natalie Portman—on the Harper's Bazaar cover was £467,200, or approximately $920,000.

2. Kate Winslet's iconic red dress from 'Titanic'

In 2012, an iconic gown from Kate Winslet's 'Titanic' sold for an astounding $330,000. The British actress donned the red "jump dress" during Rose's initial encounter with Leonardo DiCaprio's character Jack, during which he stops Rose from jumping from a bridge. The scene's legendary appeal and the movie's enormous popularity worked together to bring in the high cost.

3. Darth Vader's 'Star Wars' helmet worn by David Prowse

According to Complex, the Darth Vader helmet worn by actor David Prowse in 'Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back' sold for $898,420 to an unidentified bidder in 2019 and eventually cost more than $1 million after fees. The sculpture was expected to tap out at about $400,000, so this is more than twice the anticipated cost. The spokesman for the auction house claimed that Darth Vader masks are "the holy grail of science fiction artifacts".

4. Michael Jackson's famous white glove

Michael Jackson's popular white glove, encrusted with glistening crystals, was sold to Hong Kong businessman Hoffman Ma in Julien's Auctions memorabilia auction in 2009 for $350,000. Jackson reportedly wore the glove during his first-ever moonwalk across the stage at the 1983 'Motown 25' television special, per Reuters. The glove has come to represent the star's extraordinary career and is nearly a byword for him.

5. Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz'

Seen as "the holy grail of movie memorabilia", auction site Moments in Time reportedly advertised Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' for $6 million. According to the Smithsonian, it was the highest amount ever paid for Judy Garland's most famous shoes, among other shoes. The $6 million pair of shoes is described as being "rimmed in 46 rhinestones, surrounding 42 bugle beads and the three larger (rectangular) jewels centered in a line."

6. Marilyn Monroe’s 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' dress

At a Christie's auction in 1999, Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' dress—which had 2,500 rhinestones all over it—fetched $1,267,500. Designer Jean Louis created the garment, especially for Monroe, and it was initially priced at $12,000 in 1962. Monroe donned the glistening gown to sing 'Happy Birthday' to President John F Kennedy during his 45th birthday celebration. The gown was reportedly so tight that Monroe had to be sewn into it.

7. John Lennon's Rolls-Royce Phantom

Not satisfied with the traditional black color scheme, John Lennon had his opulent Rolls-Royce Phantom painted in a vibrant new scheme in 1967, a few weeks before the Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album was released. Later, in 1985, the Romany-inspired Rolls-Royce was put up for sale, where it sold for $2,299,000, or almost $5.9 million in today's money. The car has a vivid yellow color with floral patterns on the doors and zodiac signs on the roof.

8. Kurt Cobain's 'MTV Unplugged' guitar

Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E became the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction for an astounding $6,010,000—nearly three decades after Nirvana's legendary acoustic performance inspired the grunge band's best-selling album. Since then, the 1959 Martin D-18E guitar Cobain played during the concert has grown in value and been the focus of a protracted legal dispute. Five months after Cobain's legendary 'MTV Unplugged in New York' album was recorded, the musician died by suicide.

9. Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection

The iconic actress's La Peregrina diamond, pearl, ruby, and cultured pearl necklace was sold for $11.8 million, plus fees. It was the most costly pearl ever to be sold at auction at the time. The previous record for the most costly pearl ever sold at auction, which stood at $7 million, was surpassed by that amount. Before the sale, the necklace belonging to Taylor was estimated to be worth between $2 and $3 million.

10. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5

James Bond's Aston Martin DB5, which made an appearance in the movie 'Goldfinger', was expertly restored and brought an astounding $6.4 million at an RM Sotheby's auction. There are just three DB5s that have been 'Bond-modified' worldwide. In a news release issued before the auction, RM Sotheby's automotive specialist Barney Ruprecht stated, "No other car in history has played a more important leading role on film and in pop culture than the Aston Martin DB5."