Call it the Midas touch, Marilyn’s allure, or Michael mania, there’s a world where fans shower millions on memorabilia and objects once owned by their favorite icons. Through these ultra-expensive items of clothing, fans stay connected to their idols long after they’ve passed on. It’s why Princess Diana’s dresses fetch fortunes at auctions and why Marilyn Monroe’s charm still makes cash registers ring six decades after her death. Just last month, a mystery millionaire paid $630,000 for the iconic fedora worn by Harrison Ford in the 1984 blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Below are some items that shattered records, all thanks to their deep connection with the legendary figures who continue to transcend time-
7. Princess Diana’s Jacques Azagury’s dress worn in 1985 – $1.14 million-
“A truly unforgettable fashion frenzy erupted in 1985 when the style icon, Diana, sashayed into a dinner at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, looking resplendent in a gown adorned with metallic star embroidery. This dress, an ode to her passion for ballet, featured a two-tier royal blue organza skirt tied with a large sash and bow.
It shattered records by selling for $1.14 million at Julien’s Auctions, 11 times its original estimate of $100,000. The garment, worn during the royal tour of Italy in 1985, is the most expensive dress ever worn by Diana.
6. Dress worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz dress’ – $1.5 million-
Lost, rediscovered, and after navigating legal challenges, the iconic blue-and-white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz eventually fetched $1.5 million at Bonhams auction. The pinafore dress, long thought to be lost, was found in 2022 within the collections of the drama department at the Catholic University of America.
Designed by MGM’s renowned costume designer, Adrian, the dress was sold to an unidentified buyer who placed their bid by telephone. This timeless Hollywood icon was sold in under three minutes of being presented.
5. Jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the 1982 Thriller video – $1.8 million-
Anything that touched Michael was second to being touched by Michael himself. The black-and-red calfskin jacket worn by the star in the hit 1983 music video. A texas commodities trader bought the iconic jacket in 2011 for $1.8 million at Julien’s Auction in Beverly Hills.
Notably, the owner of the jacket aimed to use this popularity to raise money for children’s charities. Some proceeds were directed towards an animal preserve in California that housed Michael Jackson’s Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu.
4. Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady, $4.5 million –
Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle spun magic on screen, and the Cecil Beaton-designed ensemble was just one of her jaw-dropping feats.
While the film earned eight Oscars (including best costume design), the dress itself emerged a winner, fetching a staggering $4.5 million at a Profiles in History auction in 2011.
3. The white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in When his wife is on vacation in 1955 – $4.6 million-
Think of Marilyn Monroe, and one cannot help but picture her in the all-white ensemble she wore in The Seven Year Itch. Designed by William Travilla, the dress created a historic fashion moment in cinema, with Monroe’s skirt famously billowing during the subway grate scene.
It’s hardly surprising that the emblematic ensemble went under the hammer for $4.6 million at an auction in Los Angeles in 2011. Until then, it had been part of actress Debbie Reynolds’ collection for over four decades.
2. Dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 at Madison Square Garden – $4.8 million-
A beauty like no other serenaded John F. Kennedy with “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” in 1962. Little did he know that the moment, and more so, the dress, would become a piece of history. The sheer, flesh-toned gown, adorned with over 2,500 hand-stitched crystals, was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not for a staggering $4.6 million in 2011.
This iconic dress, the highlight of Madison Square Garden in 1962, went on to become the most expensive dress ever sold at auction. Originally a custom-made $1,440 figure-hugging creation, the Jean Louis-designed gown made headlines once again at the Met Gala 2022, when Kim Kardashian chose to wear it on the red carpet.
1. Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Chicago Bulls jersey – $10.09 million –
When Michael Jordan’s jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals overtime loss to the Utah Jazz was auctioned for $10.09 million, history was made. Not only did the NBA legend’s Chicago Bulls jersey surpass its estimated value by more than double, but it also became the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia ever sold.
This sacred scarlet-red jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 Finals dethroned the $9.28 million previously paid for Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ jersey from the 1986 World Cup.
