Michael Jackson house contents sell for nearly $1M
APBy SANDY COHEN | AP – 30 mins ago
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The contents of the home where Michael Jackson lived with his three children just before his death have sold for nearly $1 million at auction.
Darren Julien, president of Julien's Auctions, was unable to provide a more specific figure as he continued to tally the totals Saturday after the daylong auction, which brought in nearly triple the company's pre-auction estimate of $200,000 to $400,000.
Among the highlights: A kitchen chalkboard where Jackson's children wrote "I love daddy," which sold for $5,000, and an armoire upon which Jackson wrote a message to himself on the mirror that fetched $25,750.
The auction also included furniture, artwork and other items from the rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive, where Jackson lived as he prepared for a series of comeback concerts in London before his death in June, 2009.
The headboard from the bed where Jackson died at age 50 was removed from the auction at the family's request, but the rug that was beneath the bed sold for $15,360. The estimate had been $400 to $600.
Julien's Auctions re-created the mansion inside its Beverly Hills showroom and invited fans to fill the space where the bed would have been with a tribute to the late King of Pop. Julien promised to deliver all of the tribute items to Jackson's children and family matriarch Katherine Jackson.
"Michael Jackson has the greatest fans in the world. I can see why he lived for them," Julien said. "They came out every day this week to bring gifts. It's unlike anything we've ever seen as it relates to a celebrity and their fans."
Julien's Auctions has conducted auctions for dozens of celebrities, including Cher, Barbra Streisand, William Shatner and Slash.
Jackson commissioned the company to sell the contents of his Neverland Ranch before the auction was called off in early 2009. Julien's also sold Jackson's famous "Thriller" jacket for $1.8 million earlier this year.
People have commented on this page, that everything Michael owned just got $1M, but, none of this was Michael's stuff! We know his things were moved out right after the hoax death. This is stuff the home owner is making money from just because Michael lived there for 6 months, if he even did. The sign at Julien's says 100 North Carolwood, NOT Michael Jackson's possessions. It's not the children or the estate getting money here, it's the homeowner making money off Michael...and not a lot either. All the hooplah about Michael loved pianos...blah blah...the place came furnished! And we don't really know he even lived there! Maybe that was an agreement with the owner, you can be allowed to see the contents of the house and make money from his name for the time it sat empty after the "crime". We haven't heard that the estate went after the owner for associating it with Michael...nor that the estate is getting money. Also, I think it was recommended the owner use the same auction house that was selling Michael's things from Neverland...how coincidental..the very same one was used...although famous...we know it really is not Michael's stuff...