A single, rhinestone-encrusted sock once worn by pop legend Michael Jackson has been sold for a staggering €7,688 ($8,822) at an auction in the southern French city of Nîmes.
The off-white sock, stained with age and yellowed rhinestones, was reportedly discovered by a technician near the late singer’s dressing room following his 1997 concert in Nîmes, part of his global “HIStory World Tour.”
“This really is an exceptional object , even a cult one for Michael Jackson fans,” said auctioneer Aurore Illy, who oversaw the sale. The sock was originally valued between €3,000 and €4,000 ($3,400 to $4,500), but fierce bidding drove the final price well above expectations.
According to French auction platform Interencheres.com, Jackson wore the glittery white athletic socks during performances of his iconic hit “Billie Jean.” Video footage from the 1997 tour confirms the King of Pop dazzling fans in the now-famous footwear.
Though visibly worn and stained, the sock’s rarity and close connection to Jackson’s electrifying stage presence made it a prized collector’s item. It joined a long line of Jackson memorabilia fetching high sums at global auctions.
LEADERSHIP recalls that in 2009, a glittery glove Jackson wore during his first-ever televised “moonwalk” performance sold for a jaw-dropping $350,000 to a gaming resort in Macau. More recently, a fedora he wore just before that legendary moment fetched over $80,000 in Paris in 2023.
Despite his death from a fatal drug overdose in 2009 at age 50 and ongoing controversy stemming from child molestation allegations that he and his estate have consistently denied, Michael Jackson had continued to command deep admiration from fans and collectors alike across the world.
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