10 most expensive celebrity memorabilia sold at auction: From Michael Jackson’s white glove to Kate Winslet’s red ‘Titanic’ dress

10 most expensive celebrity memorabilia sold at auction: From Michael Jackson’s white glove to Kate Winslet’s red ‘Titanic’ dress
Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry, Michael Jackson's white glove and Marilyn Monroe’s dress have been auctioned off (Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images, Getty Images)

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

MEMPHIS, TN - CIRCA 1957: Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate in circa 1957. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate in 1957 (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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

Actress Audrey Hepburn (1929 - 1993) as Holly Golightly in a publicity shot for the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', 1961. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Actress Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in a publicity shot for the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

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'

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: Costumes from the movie 'Titanic' designed by Deborah Scott for actress Kate Winslet and actor Leonardo DiCaprio displayed at the 2013 NYWIFT Designing Women Awards at The McGraw-Hill Building on May 23, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Costumes from the movie 'Titanic' designed by Deborah Scott for actress Kate Winslet and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

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

COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 20: The first mock-up of the iconic Darth Vader helmet is seen during the 'Star Wars Identities' Exhibtion Press Preview & VIP Opening at Odysseum on May 20, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
The first mock-up of the iconic Darth Vader helmet is seen during the 'Star Wars Identities' Exhibtion Press Preview & VIP Opening (Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)

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

LONDON - OCTOBER 26: The famous white glove worn by Michael Jackson when he performed Billie Jean at the Grammy Awards in 1983 is seen on display at 'Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition' held at the 02 Arena on October 26, 2009 in London, England. Personal belongings and items from the star's legendary music career are on show, at the venue where he was due to perform his 50 date comeback tour. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)
The famous white glove worn by Michael Jackson when he performed 'Billie Jean' at the Grammy Awards in 1983 is seen on display (Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

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'

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05:
'The Wizard of Oz' ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in 1939 at the viewing at the Plaza Athenee on December 5, 2011 in New York City (John Lamparski/WireImage)

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

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Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday Mr President' dress and other possessions are displayed at a Christie's auction (Dan Callister/Online USA)

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

A Rolls-Royce Phantom V with custom psychedelic paintwork, owned by John Lennon of The Beatles, Chertsey, Surrey, 25th May 1967. The car is bright yellow with signs of the zodiac on the roof and floral designs on the doors. On the left is Lennon's chauffeur, Leslie Anthony. (Photo by Ted West/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Rolls-Royce Phantom V with custom psychedelic paintwork owned by John Lennon of The Beatles (Ted West/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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

American singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994), performs with his group Nirvana at a taping of the television program 'MTV Unplugged,' New York, New York, November 18, 1993. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Nirvana frontman and guitarist Kurt Cobain performs at a taping of the television program 'MTV Unplugged' with the 1959 Martin D-18E guitar (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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

Christie's invites the public for a viewing of fashion and accessories highlights at MOCA Pacific Design Center from the four-day series of landmark sales devoted to the iconic Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, the celebrated film star, fashion icon, and humanitarian. Collected over five decades, Elizabeth Taylor's fashion wardrobe features scores of museum-quality ensembles fashioned by Chanel, Christian Dior, Gianfranco Ferré, Givenchy, Halston, Tiziani, Valentino, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. La Peregrina pearl suspended from a natural pearl, ru by and diamond necklace, was a gift from Richard Burton in 1969. (Photo by Axel Koester/Corbis via Getty Images)
Elizabeth Taylor's La Peregrina pearl necklace was reportedly sold for $11.8 million (Axel Koester/Corbis via Getty Images)

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

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan poses against an Aston Martin DB5 in a publicity still for the James Bond film 'GoldenEye', 1995. (Photo by Keith Hamshere/Getty Images)
Pierce Brosnan poses against an Aston Martin DB5 in a publicity still for the James Bond film 'Golden Eye' in 1995 (Keith Hamshere/Getty Images)

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."

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