Many celebrities and musicians either keep their most coveted pieces of clothing from their music videos, tours, and photo shoots, or lend them to museum collections. However, some of the most recognizable and treasured articles of clothing worn by our favorite musicians have sold for enormous amounts of money, either for charity or as an opportunity for fans to battle it out at an auction for the chance to own one of their idol's signature pieces.
From costumes worn in the most-watched music videos to signature touring getup, here are some of the most iconic outfits worn by musicians that sold for top dollar.
8 Elvis Presley's Jumpsuit Sold For Over $1 Million
As one of the most celebrated and legendary performers in music history, Elvis Presley sported numerous iconic looks throughout his career, but nothing will compete with his signature bejeweled white jumpsuits he favored in his later years. One of these treasured jumpsuits sold in 2021 by Kruse GWS Auctions for a staggering amount. The eyelet Bill Belew-designed jumpsuit and cape from Presley's Madison Square Garden performances in 1972 sold at a record price at $1,012,500!
The auction featured many Elvis pieces, including a jar of hair clippings for $72,500, but this memorable ensemble sold for the most and proves that Presley is still the King of Rock 'n Roll.
7 Michael Jackson's Thriller Jacket Sold For $1.8 Million
Another legendary performer, Michael Jackson's wardrobe has been sold at top price over the years. Even if you aren't a fan of Jackson, few would be able to say they don't recognize the bright red and black leather jacket from the music video for 'Thriller'.
In 2011, two years after Michael Jackson's passing, this music artifact was sold at auction for $1.8 million! The jacket was in possession of his costume designers and was personally inscribed and signed by the star. The new owner claimed he would put it up at Austin's Dell Children's Hospital to raise money for hospitals and charities to help sick kids. A portion of the proceeds would go to Jackson's Shambala Preserve, where his Bengal tigers resided. Other iconic pieces of Michael Jackson's that have come with high price tags over the years are his 1983 'Billie Jean' performance globe for $420,000 and a signature velvet jacket and white fedora hat - which sold to Kim Kardashain.
6 Kurt Cobain's Green Cardigan Sold For Over $300 Thousand
Few MTV performances are quite as iconic as Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance back in 1993, where Kurt Cobain sported a simple mohair green cardigan that became a piece of music history. In 2019, that cigarette-burned and unkempt cardigan became one of the most expensive sweaters ever sold at auction, selling for roughly $334,000.
The sweater was first sold to a diehard fan in 2015 for $180,000, but he felt burdened by the responsibility of owning such a piece and decided to sell it after being contacted by the Louvre and realizing the significance of keeping such an item in his home. Cobain's custom Fender Mustang from the tour, In Utero, was also purchased for $340,000.
5 Cher's 'If I Could Turn Back Time' Outfit
While it didn't sell for over a million dollars, one of Cher's stunning mesh catsuits and black motorcycle jackets from her 2002 Farewell Tour and appearance at the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards, based on the 1989 music video for 'If I Could Turn Back Time', sold during a music auction in 2021 for $115,200 - quadrupling its value. It wasn't the original, but it still sold for a pretty penny.
4 John Lennon's Abbey Road Suit Was Sold Twice
With one of the most iconic album covers, The Beatles' Abbey Road album, featuring the four members crossing the street, is recognized all over the world. The off-white suit, designed by Ted Lapidus, singer John Lennon wears on the cover sold in 2011 at an auction in Connecticut at the price of $46,000, along with other memorabilia from the band.
It had previously sold in 2005 for $120,000 but was given anonymously to the next auction alongside a 1972 green Chrysler station wagon Lennon and Ono owned, which sold for $5,500.
3 Olivia Newton-John's Grease Ensemble Sold For Over $200,000
One of the most easily recognizable costumes in movie musical history, Olivia Newton-John's bad girl transformation ensemble at the end of Grease during 'You're The One That I Want' is not just a piece of cinema and musical theatre, but it's also a beloved Halloween costume by many. Hundreds of pieces were sold from the film and her career, raising about $2.4 million in total to fund a cancer wellness center. Sandy's leather jacket sold for $243,200 and the signature black leather pants sold to another buyer for $162,500.
The fan who purchased the leather jacket had different plans in mind compared to others who spend their hard-earned cash on music memorabilia. He decided to return the jacket to the singer, claiming it shouldn't just sit in a closet and should remain with the icon who wore it, sending it to her in a pink box and hugging the star. The wish was for it to be displayed in the cancer center.
2 Beyoncé's Formation Hat Sold For Over $20 Thousand
While this list has been compromised of jackets, jumpsuits, and full ensembles, there are only a few stars that could sell their accessories at such a high cost. Beyoncé, as well as Pharrell, donated items from their personal closets to an auction in 2017 to raise funds for The Lung Transplant Project. One of the highest selling items was the large black hat from her Formation tour with her name signed on the brim and a note that read "All my Love".
It was projected the hat would sell for a few thousand dollars, but it ended up selling at a whopping $27,500! The pair ended up raising a combined $40,000 at the end of the auction.
1 Prince's Purple Rain Outfit Sold For More Than Expected
Shortly after the legendary performer's death, Prince's memorabilia from throughout his career quickly began to be auctioned. Perhaps his most noteworthy project, Purple Rain, was at the center of one auction. Pieces from the 1984 film were supposed to be auctioned off before his passing, but his death only added to the demand, greatly raising the prices of items they thought would only fetch a few grand. The blazer and the ruffled shirt from the film both sold for $96,000, far more than they thought they would get.
Other articles that sold at the auction were his boots from his Lovesexy tour in 1988, which went for $17,920, a ruffled shirt from the Purple Rain tour for $32,000, and a necklace from the music video 'Diamonds and Pearls' for $8,320.
