Michael Jackson’s rhinestone socks auctioned for over $8,000

A pair of used rhinestone-decorated socks once worn by legendary pop star Michael Jackson were auctioned for over $8,000 in France, fetching nearly triple their initial estimate, according to the auction house Aurore Illy.

The white athletic socks, famously adorned with rhinestones, were worn by the King of Pop during his 1997 HIStory World Tour performance in Nîmes, a city in southern France. The socks were discovered by a backstage technician near Jackson’s dressing room following the concert and had since remained preserved in a framed display for 28 years.

“These socks are a truly extraordinary item for fans,” said Illy, a representative from the auction house. “They carry both historical and emotional value, especially considering the global legacy of Michael Jackson.”

According to the specialist auction website interencheres.com, the socks were featured in the pop star’s iconic performance of Billie Jean, a signature number often accompanied by his famous Moonwalk dance. A photo accompanying the auction listing showed the socks stained and their rhinestones yellowed with age, indicating decades of preservation.

Originally estimated to fetch between 3,000 to 4,000 euros (approximately $3,400 to $4,500), the socks were eventually sold for 7,688 euros, roughly $8,822, in a local auction in Nîmes. In Pakistani rupees, the final price amounts to over Rs2.26 million.

This latest sale adds to a growing list of high-value memorabilia associated with the late singer. In 2009, a resort in Macau purchased Jackson’s glittery glove worn during his first Moonwalk performance in 1983 for $350,000. More recently, in 2023, a hat worn by Jackson moments before the same performance sold for over $80,000 in Paris, while a leather jacket he wore in a 1984 Pepsi commercial fetched more than $300,000.

Despite ongoing controversies and posthumous scrutiny, Jackson’s fandom continues to drive high demand for his personal artifacts. The artist passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 due to a drug overdose. Accusations of child abuse, which he and his estate have consistently denied, have done little to diminish the affection of fans worldwide.