Ranked: The Most Expensive Celebrity Memorabilia Ever Sold

By David S 6 months ago

30. Breakfast at Tiffany's' Script - $632,750

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An American romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn, her personal script for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, was sold in 2017 for $632,750, the buyer was not so shockingly Tiffany & Co! As seen in the picture the scrip was also covered in Hepburn's signature turquoise ink.

29. Darth Vader's 'Star Wars' Helmet - $898,420

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Often regarded as the best movie in the Star Wars series, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980, and the villain just like in the other movies was Darth Vader. The helmet that was worn by actor David Prowse, who played Vader was purchased by an anonymous buyer in 2019 for $898,420.

28. Ali And Liston's Boxing Gloves - $956,000

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The next item on the list is a must for all sports fans, in a 2015 auction, both sets of boxing gloves from the famous 1965 boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston were sold for $956,000. The fight is well known for the "phantom punch" where Liston was accused of taking a fall to rig the fight.

27. 'Saturday Night Fever' Dance Floor - $1.2 Million

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The first item to crack the million-dollar threshold is the 'Saturday Night Fever' Dance Floor. This was sold for $1.2 million, and to provide some more background the Dance Floor seen in the movie was installed in a real nightclub located in Bay Ridge for filming.

26. Sound of Music' Costumes - $1.3 Million

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Several costumes from the 1965 musical The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. were sold in a 2013 auction for $1.3 Million. This musical is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.

25. David O. Selznick's Oscar - $1.5 million

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David O.Selznick Oscar for his role in Gone With the Wind, was purchased by Michael Jackson in 1999 for $1.5 Million. This is a very rare item not often seen in auctions, due to the fact that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, requires any winners to sell them back to them for $1 before offering the Oscar to anyone else.

24. Judy Garland's 'Wizard of Oz' Dress - $1.56 Million

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There is no place like home, especially when you spend $1.56 Million on a dress! This is the amount that was paid in 2015 for one of the two bright blue gingham dresses that was worn on screen by Judy Garland in the 1910 classic movie "The Wizard of Oz"

23. Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Outfit - $1.8 Million

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One of Michael Jackson's most iconic songs is Thriller, which was released in 1983, and the video premiered on MTV on December 2, of the same year. Jackson's red and black jacket has become famous across the world and an autographed version of this jacket was sold in an 2011 auction for $1.8 million.

22. Bob Dylan's Lyrics for 'Like a Rolling Stone - $2 Million

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Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter who was born in 1941 and his song Like A Rolling Stone has been voted as one of the greatest songs of all time. In 2014 the handwritten lyrics to this song, which only consists of four pages were sold for £2 Million.

21. John Lennon's 'Imagine' Piano -$2.1 Million

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John Lennon's 'Imagine' Piano is the next item on the list and when this was listed for sale in the year 2000, the people interested included, George Michael, Robbie Williams, Liam and Noel Gallagher. The winner was eventually George Michael who paid a whopping $2.1 Million.

20. 'The Wizard of Oz' Ruby Slippers- $2.2 Million

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The second item to appear on the list from the movie 'The Wizard of Oz, is a pair of Ruby Slippers worn by Dorothy. Only four pairs remained after filming finished and in 2012, one of these pairs was purchased for $2.2 Million and is on show at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Museum.

20. Ringo Starr's Drum Kit - $2.2 Million

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Ringo Starr's oyster black pearl three-piece drum kit was also purchased for £2.2 Million at a special Beatles auction in 2015. These drums were heard in songs such as "Can’t Buy Me Love" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand". This item was purchased by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

19. John Lennon's Rolls-Royce Phantom - $2.3 Million

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Sold in a 1985 auction for $2.3 Million and what will be worth around $5.9 Million today was John Lennon's Rolls-Royce Phantom. This was painted in a brand-new colour scheme, rather than the standard black when purchased in 1967 just before the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

18. R2D2 From 'Star Wars' - $2.76 Million

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Another item on the list from the Star Wars franchise is the R2-D2 droid. This was sold at an auction in California for $2.76 Million in 2017 by a mystery buyer. R2-D2 is only 43 inches tall and was made from spare parts not used on the set of the original trilogy.

17. Mark McGwire's Home Run Ball - $ 3 Million

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Another piece of classic Sports Memorabilia sold was the ball St. Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire set the single-season home run record reaching 70. Todd McFarlane, the comic book artist paid a huge $3 Million to own the ball, unfortunately, these days it's only worth a fraction of the price.

16. 'Wizard of Oz' Cowardly Lion Costume - $3.1 Million

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The Wizard of Oz makes yet another appearance on this list, this time, it's the costume worn by the actor Bert Lahr who played the cowardly lion. This item was purchased for a massive $3.1 Million and is made from real lion fur, with the swirls on the fur helping to confirm the costume was the one that appeared in the movie.

15. Jerry Garcia's Custom Guitars - $3.2 Million

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Jerry Garcia is an American musician who was the main songwriter, lead guitarist, and vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead. Garcia is also known to make custom guitars and in a 2017 charity auction, one of his guitars named "wolf" sold for $3.2 million.

14. 'Casablanca' Piano - $3.4 million

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A classic 1942 romantic drama film starring Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca won an Academy Award for Best Picture. The piano involved in the famous line "Play it, Sam" was sold in 2014 at a Bonhams auction for $3.4 million. The piano only had 58 keys,30 fewer than normal.

13. 'Maltese Falcon' Statue - $4.1 Million

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Standing only 12 inches tall, the 'Maltese Falcon' Statue from the 1941 movie of the same name is next on the list. Sold for $4.1 million from an avid collector, Humphrey Bogart also starred in this movie, so it sees everything he touches literally turns to gold.

12. Adam West's Batmobile - $4.2 Million

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After watching Batman, all of us have wanted to have a spin in the Batmobile! Well in 2013 this dream came true for the lucky buyer of the Batmobile actor Adam West drove in the 1960s television series. The customized Lincoln Futura sold for $4.2 Million in 2013.

11. Elizabeth Taylor's Tiara - $4.2 Million

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Elizabeth Taylor has a few items on this list and the first one sold for $4.2 million at auction. Taylor's third husband Mike Todd bought this beautiful tiara, which ended up being sold at a record price for this type of jewelry. Definitely fit for a queen!

10. Audrey Hepburn's 'My Fair Lady' Dress - $4.5 Million

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Adapted from the 1956 Lerner and Loewe stage musical, My Fair Lady is a 1964 American musical comedy-drama movie starring Audrey Hepburn'. The "Ascot dress" she wore in this movie sold in 2017 for $4.5 million. The costume designer Sir Cecil Beaton won an Academy Award for his work.

9. Marilyn Monroe's 'Seven Year Itch' Dress - $4.6 Million

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Marilyn Monroe' starred in the 955 American romantic comedy, the seven-year Itch. This was the movie where Monroe's white dress is blown upward by a passing train. This dress was sold at auction in 2011 for $4.6 million and this isn't even the most expensive dress worn by Monroe.

8. Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday' Dress - $4.8 Million

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Every year it is normal for your friends and family to sing Happy Birthday on your date of birth. However, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy was serenaded by Marilyn Monroe. The dress she wore was made up of 2,500 crystals and sold for $4.8 million in 2016.

7. Robby the Robot - $5.4 Million

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The next item on the list is the most expensive movie prop of all time! Appearing in the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet, Robby the Robot, the seven-foot android, and his jeep were sold for a huge $5.4 million at a Bonhams auction in 2017.

6. Babe Ruth's Jersey - $5.6 Million

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Babe Ruth was an American professional baseball player who played across 22 seasons, mostly with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. One of the jerseys Ruth wore when playing for the Yankees sold for $5.6 million in 2019, which was the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia at the time.

5. Kurt Cobain's 'MTV Unplugged' Guitar - $6 Million

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There was a new world record set for a guitar when Kurt Cobain's 'MTV Unplugged' 1959 Martin D-18E guitar was sold in 2020 for $6 million to an Australian businessman. This acoustic set in 1989 on MTV led to Nirvana's best-selling album Nevermind in 1991.

4. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 - $6.4 Million

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The first piece of James Bond memorabilia is Sean Connery's Aston Martin DB5. Appearing in the movies Thunderball and Goldfinger and with features such as wheel hub-mounted tire slashers, smoke screen dispensers, and revolving license plates, sold for $6.4 million in 2019.

3. Elizabeth Taylor's Diamond Ring - $8.8 Million

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The second item from Elizabeth Taylor's collection is a diamond ring when her full collection of diamonds, pearls, rubies, and gems went up for sale in a 2011 auction. The chunky 33.19-carat diamond ring that was purchased for Elizabeth by Richard Burton sold for $8.8 million.

2. Elizabeth Taylor's Taj Mahal - $8.8 Million

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Also sold for $8.8 million in 2011 was Elizabeth Taylor's Taj Mahal diamond. This item was again bought for Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton specifically for Taylor's 40th birthday originally costing $350,000 which also features an inscription “Love Is Everlasting”

1. Elizabeth Taylor's La Peregrina - 11.8 Million

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At the same auction where over 80 items of Elizabeth Taylor's were sold for $116 million, the most expensive piece of celebrity memorabilia was Taylor's 16th-century pearl named La Peregrina alongside a Cartier-designed ruby-and-gold necklace. This was sold for $11.8 million.

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