Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum Kim Kardashian is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest celebrities in Hollywood. The reality TV mega-star has amassed a massive fortune since stepping into the limelight in the late 2000s; with her net worth currently estimated to be whopping $1.4 billion.
With an annual income exceeding $80 million, a flourishing reality TV career, and multiple lucrative entrepreneurial ventures to boot, the Kardashian certainly has enough money to throw around. If the opulent lifestyle displayed on Hulu’s The Kardashians is anything to go by, the mother of four has no qualms flaunting her wealth, spending generously on a wide array of luxuries, including top-of-the-range cars, heaps upon heaps of designer clothing, expensive jewelry, and ostentatious real estate. In addition, the Kardashian indulges in one rather expensive pastime; trophy-hunting at exclusive auctions. Here are some of the surprising and unbelievably expensive items Kim Kardashian has bought at auction over the years.
8 Kim Kardashian Purchased Princess Diana’s Amethyst Cross ($197,453)
Kim Kardashian recently purchased the Attallah cross, an amethyst cross worn by Princess Diana, for a whopping $197,453. The cross, which was one of the deceased English royal’s signature pieces of jewelry, features a large amethyst surrounded by exquisite circular-cut diamond accents. The Kardashian acquired the iconic piece at the Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Sale for more than double its pre-auction estimate of £80,000.
“This is a bold piece of jewelry by its size, color and style which cannot fail to make a vibrant statement, whether it be of faith or fashion—or indeed both,” Kristian Spofforth, head of jewelry for Sotheby’s London said of the piece. “We are delighted that this piece has found a new lease of life within the hands of another globally famous name.”
7 Kim Kardashian Bought Jackie Kennedy’s Gold Cartier Tank Watch ($379,500)
n 2017, Kim Kardashian spent $379,500 to own a Cartier Tank watch owned by former first lady Jackie Kennedy. The 18-karat gold watch, known for its elegant, yet timeless design, was auctioned off for more than triple its pre-auction estimate of $120,000 at Christie’s N.Y.C to an anonymous bidder, who later turned out to be Kim Kardashian.
The Kardashian chose to wear the iconic watch during her visit to the White House in 2019. “I bought Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s watch at auction,” she told Vogue. “I wore it when I went to the White House [to discuss prison reform with Donald Trump]. It gave me some power: Let’s get in there and get this done!”
6 North West Was Gifted A Custom Made Velvet Jacket Worn By Michael Jackson ($65,625)
Kim Kardashian has also been known to purchase expensive auction items as gifts for her loved ones. In 2021, the Kardashian purchased Michael Jackson's velvet jacket for $65,625 at a Julien's Auctions event in Beverly Hills. Kardashian later gifted the jacket, which was worn during Jackson’s "Bad" tour in the late 1980s, to her eldest daughter, North.
“North is a really big Michael Jackson fan, and we knew she would love this,” Kim wrote on Instagram at the time. “We won this on an auction for Northie for Christmas.”
5 Kim Kardashian Purchased Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal Hat ($56,250)
Along with the Gianni Versace custom jacket, Kim Kardashian also acquired Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal hat, which was also gifted to North. The white fedora cap, which still carried traces of the late musical legend's make-up, was sold to the Kardashian for an astounding $56,250.
North would later suffer heavy backlash for wearing the iconic hat as a Halloween costume in 2022. “Why is Kim Kardashian so obsessed with wearing archival pieces from dead icons?,” one Twitter user wrote at the time. “First, it was her wearing that Marilyn Monroe dress, now she has North wearing Micheal Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ hat for Halloween. This family is so obsessive and weird! Let the dead rest!”
4 Kim Kardashian Bought An Outfit From Janet Jackson’s 'If' Music Video ($25,000)
In 2021, Kim Kardashian left fans in dismay when she purchased a cropped suede top and lace-up front pants belonging to Janet Jackson for $25,000. The outfit, which featured in Jackson’s 1993 If music video, was auctioned off at a three-day auction dubbed Iconic Treasures From the Legendary Career and Life of Janet Jackson held by Julien’s Auctions to commemorate the singer’s birthday.
Kardashian announced the purchase in an Instagram story that read, "Happy birthday queen! For @janetjackson’s bday bc I’m such a fan I can’t believe I won this outfit on @juliens_auctions.” Jackson responded to the post with her own Instagram story that read, "Thank u so much @kimkardashian! I hope 'IF' gives u as much pleasure as it did me."
3 Kim Kardashian Purchased Three Bracelets From Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewelry Collection ($65,000)
While Kim Kardashian is no stranger to splurging on expensive jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor’s bracelets definitely rank among the most expensive pieces of jewelry the reality TV mogul has ever purchased. The Kardashian acquired the three jade and diamond bracelets at a New York auction where Taylor’s rare collection of ostentatious jewelry was auctioned off.
Kardashian reportedly paid $65,000 for the bracelets, a hefty sum for three pieces of jewelry, but a relatively small price for a piece of memorabilia connected to a legendary figure like Elizabeth Taylor.
2 Kim Kardashian Won A Set Of Elvis Presley’s Rings ($15,000)
In 2020, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum made headlines once again when she purchased a pair of rings that belonged to the late Elvis Presley. The set of gold rings were auctioned off to Kardashian for a cool $15,000 at an auction of Presley's estate in Beverly Hills, and later gifted to her brother, Rob Kardashian.
Kardashian later posted snapshots of the rings on her Instagram with the caption. "I'm obsessed with auctions and my brother is the biggest Elvis Presley fan, so I got him two of Elvis' rings for Christmas."
1 Kim Kardashian Bought A Real Emmy Award (Est. $8,000)
An Emmy Award is arguably the most surprising item Kim Kardashian has bought at auction. The statuette, which can attract bids as high as $8,000 at auction, was gifted to her mother, Kris Jenner for her 60th birthday, and is prominently featured in her home.
During a recent episode of The Kardashians, Jenner disclosed that, although she couldn’t remember to whom the Emmy initially belonged, she was incredibly proud to have it in her possession. "Well, you know what? You put it out there, and it just might happen," she told her daughter Khloe Kardashian.
