Michael Jackson’s famous red and black leather jacket worn in his epic “Thriller” video has been deemed “the most recognized and significant piece of pop culture” by auction administrator Darren Julien.
Get your check books ready big spenders.
Although personally I feel that articles such as these are priceless, the Associated Press reports that during the Music Icons auction on June 25 and 26 at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, this legendary piece is expected to sell for at least $200,000 … the operative words being “at least.” The Thriller album sold 110 million copies worldwide, so my hopes are for a die-hard fan to hike the price up to at least 1 million.
A portion of the proceeds from its sale will benefit the Shambala Preserve, where Jackson’s two Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, have been living since the pop star left his Neverland ranch in 2006. MJ autographed the jacket as a gift to his longtime costume designers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. It was to be used as a template for other costumes and fashions for the icon in the future. Other Jackson items up for sale include the wig he wore when he announced his ill-fated “This Is It” concert series in London, a fedora and spangled glove he wore on stage, his shirt from the “Scream” video and the battered mailbox from the Carolwood Drive estate where Jackson died at age 50 in 2009. Hopefully, the auctioneers consulted with Kathryn Jackson first, we all know she has and should have the final say so for anything involving her late son.
The collection will be on view free to the public from June 13 to 25 at Julien’s Auctions Gallery in Beverly Hills.
