List of most valuable celebrity memorabilia

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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

The following is a list of most valuable celebrity memorabilia (or most expensive celebrities items auctioned) sold with an auction price of over $USD 1.5 million. It includes personal belongings of public figures such as music artists, actors, athletes, models and socialites, and encompass any collectibles items sold at auction, from jewelry, musical instruments to manuscripts and famous costumes worn in events or projects.

Contents

The list does not include film props such as Robby the Robot and Batmobile, sport cards, auctioned musical instruments by manufacturers, or expensive things bought by, and, collectibles purchases made by a celebrity.

As of 2025, the most valued sports collectible item ever sold is Babe Ruth's jersey for the 1932 World Series, at over $24 million, and in film history, the Ruby slippers of Dorothy Gale by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz for $28 million.

Most expensive items

Key
‡Current record holder for the category
Celebrity or itemPurchase priceTypeDate of saleSellerBuyerNamesake or item photoRef.
Ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland (as Dorothy Gale)$28 million [a] Shoes2024 Heritage Auctions E-Land Group Ruby slippers.JPG [2]
Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series jersey$24.1 millionSportswear2024 Heritage Auctions Babe Ruth 1930.jpeg [3]
Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona $17.8 million Watch 2017 Phillips Auction Paul Newman - 1958.jpg [4]
Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals jersey$10.1 millionSportswear2023Sotheby's Jordan by Lipofsky 16577.jpg [5]
Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" 1986 World Cup jersey$9.3 millionSportswear2022Sotheby's Maradona-Mundial 86 con la copa.JPG [5] [6]
Elizabeth Taylor Diamond $8.8 millionJewelry2011Christie's Taylor, Elizabeth posed.jpg [7]
Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E Guitar $6 millionMusical instrument2020Julien's Auctions Kurt Cobain 1986 mugshot.png [8]
Babe Ruth's 1928-1930 New York Yankees jersey$5.64 millionSportswear2019Sotheby's Babe Ruth 1930.jpeg [6]
White dress of Marilyn Monroe $5.6 millionDress2011 Profiles in History Marilyn Monroe photo pose Seven Year Itch.jpg [9]
Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-Master$5.1 million Watch 2023 Phillips Auction Marlon Brando in 1950.png [10]
Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday, Mr. President dress $4.8 millionDress2016Julien's Auctions Jim Pattison Steve Smith with Marilyn Monroe at Private Reception in New York City JFKWHP-ST-A47-8-62.jpg [11]
Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady dress $4.5 millionDress2011 Profiles in History Audrey Hepburn My Fair Lady Dress.jpg [9]
Kurt Cobain's Blue Fender Mustang $4.5 millionMusical instrument2022Julien's Auctions Kurt Cobain, Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar, EMP Museum.jpg [12]
Elizabeth Taylor's Mike Todd Tiara$4.2 millionJewelry2011Christie's Taylor, Elizabeth posed.jpg [13]
David Gilmour's The Black Strat $3.95 millionMusical instrument2019Christie's Jim Irsay Black Strat.jpg [14]
Eddie Van Halen's Kramer Guitars $3.932 millionMusical instrument2023Sotheby's Image-missing.svg [15]
Mark McGwire's 70th-home-run baseball$3 millionSport memorabilia1999 Guernsey's Todd McFarlane Mark McGwire 1989.jpg [16] [17]
Hat worn by Margaret Hamilton (as Wicked Witch of the West)$2.93 millionClothing2024 Heritage Auctions The Wizard of Oz Margaret Hamilton 1939 No 1.jpg [1]
John Lennon's Framus Hootenanny$2.85 millionMusical instrument2024Julien's Auctions John Lennon passport photo (cropped).jpg [18]
John Lennon's Gibson J-160E $2.4 millionMusical instrument2014Julien's AuctionsAnonymous John Lennon's missing 1962 Gibson J-160E guitar in the exhibit (clip3) - Ladies and Gentlemen... the Beatles! exhibit at LBJ Presidential Library, Austin, TX, 2015-06-12 11.37.55.jpg [19]
The Beatles's Drumhead $2.1 millionMusical instrument2015Julien's Auctions Jim Irsay Beatles Ludwig drumset, Vox Super Beatle amplifier, Museum of Making Music.jpg [20]
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan ‡$2.045 millionMusic manuscript2014Sotheby's Like a rolling stone by bob dylan us vinyl side a.png [21]
Jerry Garcia's Wolf Guitar$1.9 millionMusical instrument2017 Guernsey's Brian Halligan Jerry-Garcia-01cropped.jpg [22]
Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket $1.8 millionClothing2011Julien's AuctionsMilton Verret Clothing of Michael Jackson (Grammy Museum) July 2022 (3).JPG [23]
David Gilmour's 1954 Fender Stratocaster$1.8 millionMusical instrument2019Christie's DGilmourRAH111024 (21 of 63) (cropped).jpg [14]
Barbara Sinatra's engagement ring$1.7 millionJewelry2018Sotheby's Barbara Sinatra 2000.jpg [24]
Eric Clapton's Rolex Crazy Doc$1.6 million Watch 2022 Phillips Auction Eric Clapton 1978.jpg [25]
Kurt Cobain's Sky Stang 1 1993 Fender Mustang$1.58 millionMusical instrument2020Julien's AuctionsMitsuru Sato Kurt Cobain 1986 mugshot.png [26]
Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz dress $1.56 millionDress2011 Turner Classic Movies Anonymous Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz trailer 2.jpg [9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The pair was sold at auction for $28 million by Heritage Auctions (ultimately $32.5 million after auction house's fees are included) [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Gomez, Julia (December 8, 2024). "Dorothy's ruby slippers featured in 'The Wizard of Oz' auction for over $30 million". USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ George Nelson (December 9, 2024). "Dorothy's Red Ruby Slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' Sell for a Whopping $28 M. at Auction". ART News.
  3. ↑ "Baseball legend Babe Ruth's shirt breaks sports memorabilia auction record". Al Jazeera Media Network. August 26, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ Slawson, Nicola (October 28, 2017). "Paul Newman's Rolex watch sells for record $17.8m". The Guardian . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Slawson, Nicola (January 26, 2023). "Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals jersey sells for $10.1 million". Fox Sports . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Hamilton, Tom (May 4, 2022). "Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' jersey sells for world-record price at auction". ESPN . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (December 16, 2011). "Once a Star, Always a Star". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (June 20, 2020). "Kurt Cobain's 'MTV Unplugged' Guitar Sells for $6 Million at Auction". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Allaire, Christian (April 25, 2024). "The Most Expensive Dresses Ever Sold at Auction". Vogue. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Hartov, Oren (November 8, 2023). "Marlon Brando's Customized Rolex Just Sold for $5 Million". GQ . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Marilyn's 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' Dress Sells for $4.8M". NBC News. Reuters. November 18, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ Mei, Juliana (May 23, 2022). "Kurt Cobain's iconic blue Fender Mustang fetches $4.5 million at auction". Guitar.com . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ↑ Malach, Hannah (May 29, 2024). "What Happened to Elizabeth Taylor's Jewelry Collection? Her Massive Diamonds, Historic Pearls and More". Women's Wear Daily . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Grow, Kory (June 20, 2019). "David Gilmour's Guitars Sell for Millions at Charity Auction". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  15. ↑ Erickson, Anne (April 20, 2023). "Eddie Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" Guitar Sells for Nearly $4 Million at Auction". Consequence . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia". Time. p. 10. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Most expensive baseball sold at auction". Guinness World Records. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  18. ↑ Saad, Nardine; Goldberg, Noah (May 31, 2024). "John Lennon's newly repaired 12-string 'Help!' guitar sells for a record $2.85 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  19. ↑ "John Lennon's guitar sold for $2.4m at auction". The Guardian. Reuters. November 8, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  20. ↑ Lindquist, David (November 10, 2015). "Beatles drum head is Jim Irsay's latest purchase". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone manuscript sells for over $2m". The Guardian . Associated Press. June 24, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  22. ↑ Blistein, Jon (June 1, 2017). "Jerry Garcia's Legendary Wolf Guitar Sells for $1.9 Million at Auction" . Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ Perpetua, Matthew (June 27, 2011). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Jacket Sold For $1.8 Million". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Sinatra memorabilia, jewellry on sale in New York". France 24. AFP. May 12, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Sheppard, Amanda (May 6, 2022). "Eric Clapton's Crazy Doc Rolex may fetch US$1.6 million at auction – plus 4 more highlights from Phillips' Geneva Watch Auction: XV, including Patek Philippes and an Audemars Piguet". South China Morning Post . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  26. ↑ Gardner, Josh (2024). "The 15 Most Expensive Guitars Sold At Auction". Guitar.com . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
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