Cover Perhaps one of the most famous examples of celebrity memorabilia that has found its way to auction, Marilyn Monroe’s pearled dress that she wore on JFK's birthday in May 1962 was among the actress’ items on the block in October 1999. (Photo: Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)
Perhaps one of the most famous examples of celebrity memorabilia that has found its way to auction, Marilyn Monroe’s pearled dress that she wore on JFK's birthday in May 1962 was among the actress’ items on the block in October 1999. (Photo: Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images)
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These celebrity auction items prove that in the world of fame, even the weirdest things can become priceless
There’s standard memorabilia—signed posters, stage-worn tees, the usual fare. And then there’s the truly bizarre: molars, acrylic nails, even leftover toast. These extreme examples of celebrity memorabilia often fetch jaw-dropping prices at auction, revealing the depth of fan devotion, the strange economics of fame, and the enduring mystique of pop culture icons. Whether auctioned for charity, estate settlements or pure pop-culture hysteria, these items prove that nothing is too strange—or too small—for the right buyer.
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1. Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress: US$4.8 Million
Custom-designed by Jean Louis, this sheer, rhinestone-encrusted gown was worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 when she famously serenaded President John F. Kennedy. Auctioned by Julien’s Auctions in 2016, it was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!—and controversially loaned to Kim Kardashian for the 2022 Met Gala, prompting global debate about fashion conservation.
2. Princess Diana’s Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt: US$53,000
Above Diana, Princess of Wales, photographed at the Chelsea Harbour Club in January 1997 wearing the Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt that would later find its way to auction in 2019. (Photo: Getty Images)
Diana, Princess of Wales, photographed at the Chelsea Harbour Club in January 1997 wearing the Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt that would later find its way to auction in 2019. (Photo: Getty Images)
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At the height of her popularity in the 1990s, Princess Diana wore this oversized navy sweatshirt to the gym over and over to foil paparazzi. A gift from Richard Branson, it was later passed to her personal trainer, Jenni Rivett, who auctioned it in 2019 via RR Auction to benefit a women’s charity.
3. John Lennon’s tooth: US$31,000
JIn the late 1960s, Lennon had a molar extracted and handed it to his housekeeper as a gift for her daughter, who was a Beatles fan. Decades later, it was sold via Omega Auctions to a Canadian dentist—who reportedly hoped to extract Lennon’s DNA and clone him.
4. Britney Spears’ chewed gum: US$14,000 (allegedly)
A fan claimed to have retrieved gum spat out by Spears during a concert in the early 2000s and listed it on eBay. Although never officially authenticated, it reportedly sold to a private buyer—cementing its place in auction lore.
5. Lady Gaga’s fake fingernail: US$12,000
During a 2013 performance in Dublin, one of Gaga’s black and gold acrylic nails flew off. A crew member found it and consigned it to ArtFact, complete with a photo of Gaga wearing the nail and a certificate of authenticity. Proof that even a press-on can be pop gold.
6. Kurt Cobain’s ‘MTV Unplugged’ guitar: US$6 Million
Iconic grunge musician Kurt Cobain’s 1959 Martin D-18E, used during Nirvana’s iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged set, was auctioned by Julien’s in 2020. Sold by the ex-husband of Cobain’s daughter, it became the most expensive guitar ever auctioned, purchased by Røde Microphones founder Peter Freedman.
Read more: 5 ways Kurt Cobain was a cultural disruptor
7. JK Rowling’s handwritten ‘Harry Potter’ prequel manuscript: US$48,000
In 2008 Harry Potter creator JK Rowling hand-wrote an 800-word prequel on a postcard for a charity auction benefiting English PEN and Dyslexia Action. Featuring Sirius Black and James Potter, the manuscript was later stolen from a private collector’s Birmingham home in 2017.
8. Andy Warhol’s silver wig: US$10,800
One of Warhol’s signature silver wigs was sold by Christie’s in 2006 as part of his estate’s auction. Stored in a box marked “Andy’s Hair Piece,” it was among the more eccentric items, alongside cookie jars and Montblanc pens, making even a wig a piece of pop art history.
9. Barbra Streisand’s dog portraits and furniture
In a widely publicised 2009 auction, Streisand sold personal items from her Malibu home, including antique furniture, vintage couture and custom oil portraits of her beloved dog, Sammie. The auction supported her Women’s Heart Center but also gave fans an intimate glimpse into her private world.
10. Justin Timberlake’s half-eaten French toast: US$1,025
After a visit to New York’s Z100 radio station in 2000, JT left behind some barely touched French toast. The station listed it on eBay “for charity,” and it sold to a teenage *NSYNC fan in Wisconsin, because nothing says devotion like day-old carbs.
