Pop culture up for auction: The booming multimillion-dollar business of selling celebrities’ personal belongings

Auctions of celebrities’ personal belongings are attracting strong interest, with collectors paying large sums for objects that offer a tangible link to famous people and cultural moments. Marilyn Monroe is a leading example: even ordinary items associated with her continue to sell for striking prices.

Recent sales include David Lynch’s coffee maker at $35,000 and Matthew Perry’s script from a late episode of Friends at $75,000, sold to benefit his recovery-focused foundation. Kim Kardashian paid £163,800 for Princess Diana’s Attallah Cross in 2023, while Diana’s “revenge dress” is expected to fetch €130,000 to €258,000 at a forthcoming auction. Auction specialists say documented ownership and personal history can raise an item’s value well beyond its materials.