Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux Pay Almost Half Million for Painting at 'Artists for Haiti'

4:59 PM PDT 9/24/2011 by THR Staff

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The charity auction, which was presented by actor Ben Stiller and art dealer David Zwirner, raised more than $13 million for the impoverished country.

Ben Stiller and art dealer David Zwirner joined forces on Friday, Sept. 23, holding a charity auction at Christie's to benefit the impoverished and earthquake stricken country of Haiti.

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While pre-sale expectations hovered around $10 million, "Artists for Haiti" raked in an astounding $13,662,000, reports Artinfo. Among the generous buyers were art dealers, galleries and a few Hollywood notables.

Stiller himself shelled out $400,000 for a Jeff Koons' silkscreen-on-stainless-steel work, and $200,000 for a Martin Kippenberger designed street lamp sculpture.

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Jennifer Aniston and Wanderlust co-star Justin Theroux were on hand, as the director/producer/actor won a record $450,000 bid for Glenn Ligon's oil, charcoal and graphite on canvas. The work is estimated at $150-200,000.

Aniston reportedly "clapped enthusiastically" following Theroux's winning bid.

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Tennis pro John McEnroe got in on the action as well, and though he lost one bidding war to Acquavella Gallery -- for Zhang Huan's ash-on-canvas titled "Chinese Flag No. 1" -- McEnroe did walk away with Elizabeth Petyon's colored pencil and pastel portrait of Jay-Z for $85,000.

All works were donated by the artists, many of which were made especially for the event. Christie's chipped in by waiving their usual buyer's premium and providing a bank of telephones for absentee bidders, one of whom nabbed the most expensive work of the evening for a cool $2 million.

The event concluded with an announcement of the final numbers, causing the room to applaud thunderously, while Zwrirner and Stiller celebrated. The hefty sum will benefit health and education initiatives in the Caribbean country.