Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” jacket could go for as much as $400,000 at an auction later this month.
Julien’s Auctions has estimated that the red-and-black jacket, which the late singer wore in his seminal “Thriller” video, will go for $200,000-$400,000, but auction house president Darren Julien told CNN that he expects it to fetch even more money than that at the June 25-26 event.
“It is truly the most iconic piece of pop culture history,” Julien said. “You see the jacket and you know what it [is] immediately and who it belonged to.”
The jacket was given by Jackson, who died in 2009, to his longtime costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. The inside lining is inscribed “To Bush and Dennis, All My Love, Michael Jackson,” and the sleeve is signed “Love Michael Jackson.”
A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Shambala Preserve, which is home to Jackson’s Bengal tigers Thriller and Sabu.
More than 600 other items will be auctioned off at the event, taking place at the Julien’s Auctions Gallery in Beverly Hills.
They include a stage worn denim jacket from Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run tour, Frank Sinatra’s exclusive 1986 Jaguar, handwritten lyrics from Johnny Cash, clothing worn by Slash, Madonna annotated sheet music, an Elvis Presley original TCB necklace, Steven Tyler signed harmonica, a broken guitar neck and smashed guitar stand of Kurt Cobain’s from a Nirvana concert and items from the careers of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.
