Jackson glove smashes expectations at auction

Bidders from around the world bought up Michael Jackson memorabilia worth nearly $1m (€808,150) at an auction which began on the anniversary of his death.

The sale included $190,000 (€153,548) for the Swarovski crystal-studded glove he wore on his 1984 Victory Tour.

The bidding, which began on Friday, on more than 200 items was “unlike anything we’ve ever experienced,” said Darren Julien of Julien’s Auctions, which ran the auction at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Some items, such as the glove, brought 10 times more than their estimated value, he said.

“It just shows you Michael Jackson is the most sought-after and most collectible celebrity of all time. It was just phenomenal,” Julien told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“People flew in from Asia, Russia, all over. Now that he’s gone, we now realise the true legend we lost,” said Julien. He predicted the sales would easily top $1m (€808,150) by the time the auction wrapped up today.

The glove had been expected to sell for between $20,000 and $30,000 (€16,163-€24,244).

The winning glove bidder was Wanda Kelley of Los Angeles, who also bought a number of Jackson’s albums at the auction, the Las Vegas Sun reported. She said she was prepared to go higher if necessary.

“Let’s just say I wasn’t walking out of here without that glove,” she said.

A pair of Jackson’s stage-worn loafers that were listed as worth $2,000 to $3,000 (€1,616 to €2,424) went for $90,000 (€72,733).

The custom jacket that the pop singer was wearing during an interview with US broadcaster Barbara Walters was listed at $6,000 to $8,000 (€4,849 to €6,465).

It sold for $120,000 (96,978).

A white Fedora sold for $56,250 (€45,458). One of the last autographs Jackson signed, and dated June 24, 2009, in his handwriting, went for $21,000 (€16,971).