More famous and iconic than ever!
Marilyn Monroe's legendary sheer, crystal-emblazoned dress, which she wore in May 1962 to sing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy, sold at auction for a record-breaking $4.8 million, Julien's Auctions announced Friday.
The $4.8 million bid, well beyond the pre-auction $3 million estimate, edged out the previous most expensive dress ever sold at auction: Monroe's white costume from The Seven Year Itch, which sold for $4.6 million in 2011.
Ripley's Believe It or Not bought the "Happy Birthday" dress with the intent to display it at one of their museums, The Guardian reports.
"We believe this is the most iconic piece of pop culture that there
is," Ripley's vice president Edward Meyer said after the museum chain
won the auction. "In the 20th century I cannot think of one single item
that tells the story of the 1960s as well as this dress. It's a new
world record for a dress."
The "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress previously hit the Christie's auction block in 1999, where it sold for a then-record $1.27 million.
Other than the iconic performance, the dress is also remembered for featuring in one of Monroe's final public appearances before her August 1962 death, three months after singing at Kennedy's 45th birthday gala.
"This dress, this story, this momentous occasion represents a defining moment in history," Julien's Auctions executive director Martin Nolan said. "This auction will remind the world why Marilyn Monroe remains an icon."
The dress was the centerpiece of a three-day auction dedicated to Monroe memorabilia.
The "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress previously hit the Christie's auction block in 1999, where it sold for a then-record $1.27 million.
Other than the iconic performance, the dress is also remembered for featuring in one of Monroe's final public appearances before her August 1962 death, three months after singing at Kennedy's 45th birthday gala.
"This dress, this story, this momentous occasion represents a defining moment in history," Julien's Auctions executive director Martin Nolan said. "This auction will remind the world why Marilyn Monroe remains an icon."
The dress was the centerpiece of a three-day auction dedicated to Monroe memorabilia.
By Daniel Kreps
With many thanks to Rolling Stone
Famous Blondes, From Monroe and Novak To Bardot And Basinger
Marilyn Monroe: Her Secret Diary
Could Marilyn Monroe Star In A New Film?
Do You See Albert Einstein Or Marilyn Monroe In This Photo?
Never Ever Give Up! - Famous Failures
Are These The Top 10 Songs Named After Famous People?
Marilyn Monroe's Belongings Up For Auction
Some Biopic Actors And Their Real-Life Counterparts