A Michael Jackson Gift to Elizabeth Taylor Was Sold

Last Tuesday, at Christie’s auction in New York, the jewels of Hollywood’s purple-eyed beauty queen Elizabeth Taylor set a new record and sold for $116 million.

Among the collection was a gift from Michael Jackson: a necklace and earring set featuring a monkey and a banana, woven with yellow and white gold and decorated with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.

This set was a gift from Italian Baroness Sandra Day Portanova, the granddaughter of the prominent investor Hugh Roy Calen, to her husband. The couple was known for their lavish lifestyle.

After the two passed away, the baroness’s necklace and earring set was sold at an auction in 2000 for $55,000. The set was eventually purchased by Michael as a special gift for his dear friend Elizabeth.

While the estimated price for the set was between $30,000 and $50,000, at Tuesday’s auction it sold for $250,000.

Other auction items included jewelry that Elizabeth received as gifts from her husband Richard Burton, such as a 33-carat diamond ring and her wig from the film Cleopatra.

Part of the auction proceeds will go to the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation, which works against AIDS.

Source: eMJey.com / Reuters