If you saw the American Music Awards the other night, you know Michael Jackson is still wildly popular, perhaps more so since his recently death several months ago. He lost the Artist of the Year award to Taylor Swift, but he won Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock Favorite Album (Number Ones), Soul/R&B Favorite Male Artist, and Soul/R&B Favorite Album (Number Ones).
The day before the AMAs, some Jackson fans scored big by purchasing some of his personal possessions at an auction. Family members, associates, and fans contacted Julien’s Auctions about selling the merchandise. The auction, held at Hard Rock Café in Times Square in New York City, brought in about $2 million dollars.
What was up for grabs? The handwritten lyrics to Jackson’s 1983 monster hit “Beat It” went for $60,000. Jackson’s black zippered and buckled jacket from the Bad World Tour sold for $270,000. One of the fedoras Jackson wore to the 1995 MTV Music Awards went for $73,800. He wore a total of three hats during the 10 minute performance, before throwing the one that was auctioned off into the crowd. Two pieces of Jackson’s artwork – a vagabond and Charlie Chaplin – sold for a combined total of $53,280. A 1985 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL that Jackson had given to his aunt sold for $104,500. The upper mold that was used to fit Jackson with fangs for his famous “Thriller” video in 1983 went for more than $10,000.
And what of Jackson’s renowned rhinestone-studded glove that he wore at the Motown 25 special when he first introduced the moonwalk? That glove was purchase by Hoffman Ma from Hong Kong for $420,000 for the Ponte 15 Resort in Macau. The original owner, Walter “Clyde” Orange of the Commodores, was given the glove after he asked Jackson for an autograph at the Motown 25 special. Orange has said he will donate part of the proceeds of the sale to charity.
Before the auction, the items were on display in Santiago, Chile, Dublin, Ireland, and Tokyo, Japan.