Celebrities are renowned for their extravagant tastes, often leading to the sale of their personal items for substantial sums of money. Sometimes, these items include unexpectedly bizarre things that one might not expect to find on the market: used tissues, broken nails, or even kidney stones belonging to famous actors.
1. Justin Bieber’s Boa Constrictor
At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Justin Bieber made a memorable entrance with an unconventional accessory—a live baby albino boa constrictor named Johnson. However, Bieber’s tenure as Johnson’s owner was short-lived, as the snake was put up for charity auction just a few months later. Described in the auction catalogue as destined to reach nearly four feet in length, the listing emphasized the long-term commitment required to care for a pet snake.
Johnson found a new home with Michael Kronick, who publicly criticized Bieber for treating the snake as a mere accessory. In response to Kronick’s disapproval, Johnson was subsequently donated to the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo in Owatonna, Minnesota.
2. John Lennon’s Tooth
In 2011, John Lennon’s tooth fetched £19,000 (approximately $31,200 at the time) at an auction in England. The tooth had been kept by one of Lennon’s former housekeepers, Dot Jarlett, who initially received it with instructions from Lennon to destroy it. Later, Lennon changed his mind and suggested Jarlett give it to her daughter, who was a devoted Beatles fan.
Although the tooth itself is now too fragile for DNA testing, the Omega Auction House expressed confidence in its authenticity. Initially expected to sell for around $16,000, the tooth exceeded expectations and sold for nearly double that amount. The reported buyer was Canadian dentist Michael Zuk, although this was not officially confirmed by the auction house. According to Jarlett’s son, the tooth had been held by their family for several decades before being sold.
3. Scarlett Johansson’s Used Tissue
In 2008, a tissue that actress Scarlett Johansson had purportedly used was auctioned off on eBay for approximately $5,300. The tissue had been offered for sale by the TV network NBC following Johansson’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The auction proceeds were donated to the charity USA Harvest, which focuses on food collection. Bidding for the tissue started at a modest $0.99 but escalated quickly, reaching $4,050 before the final sale. After a total of 83 bids, the tissue was eventually purchased by an anonymous buyer.
4. Britney Spears’s Pregnancy Test
In 2005, a pregnancy test kit allegedly used by Britney Spears was auctioned off for $5,001. According to reports from the radio station handling the sale, the test was said to have been found in the hotel room where Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, had stayed, although this claim has not been independently verified.
The purchase was publicized by the internet casino GoldenPalace.com, known for acquiring unusual items. As with many of their previous acquisitions, the proceeds from the sale were earmarked for charity. Specifically, the funds went to two organizations: the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Easter Seal Society, which provides support to children with physical disabilities.
5. Russell Crowe’s Jockstrap
In April 2018, it came to light that John Oliver’s HBO show, Last Week Tonight, had purchased Russell Crowe’s jockstrap from the film Cinderella Man for $7,000. Alongside the jockstrap, the show acquired several other items worn by Crowe in various movies, such as a pair of shorts and a robe from Cinderella Man, a hood from Robin Hood, and a vest from Les Miserables. These memorabilia items were specifically chosen to be sent to the last surviving Blockbuster store in Alaska.
This decision was part of a segment on the show that focused on the dwindling presence of video rental stores, particularly Blockbuster locations, across the United States. Despite the rise of streaming services and the challenges faced by video stores elsewhere, those in Alaska have managed to survive due to slower internet speeds and higher costs associated with streaming services in remote areas.
6. Justin Timberlake’s Unfinished Toast
In March 2000, Justin Timberlake, then part of the popular boy band NSYNC, enjoyed breakfast at a radio station in the New York area. After his meal, the DJ noticed that Timberlake had left behind a half-eaten sandwich. Seizing an opportunity, the DJ did something unexpected—put the sandwich up for sale on eBay.
The gamble paid off handsomely. The sandwich fetched the anticipated amount of money, selling for $1,025 to a 19-year-old from Wisconsin named Kathy Summers. She made headlines by announcing her intention to preserve the toast through freeze-drying and sealing, planning to display it proudly on her dresser.
When questioned about why Timberlake didn’t finish his sandwich, reports vary, with some suggesting he chose to remain silent on the matter, leaving the mystery of the half-eaten sandwich to intrigue fans and collectors alike.
7. iPhone Broken By Rihanna
During a Los Angeles Clippers NBA playoff game in 2014, Rihanna accidentally dropped and cracked the phone of Steve Soboroff, who was then the President of the Los Angeles Police Commission. Reports indicated the mishap occurred while she was trying to take a selfie with him.
Following the incident, Rihanna promptly tweeted an apology and donated $25,000 to a charity fund benefiting police officers and their families. In a creative move to further support the cause, Soboroff decided to auction the cracked iPhone on eBay. The phone, adorned with Rihanna’s signature and a message expressing her support for the LAPD, quickly attracted widespread attention and bids, ultimately fetching around $56,000.
8. Lady Gaga’s Fingernail
Lady Gaga’s iconic black nail, affectionately dubbed the ‘monster claw’ by her fans, fetched approximately $12,000 at a 2013 auction. This distinctive fashion piece, adorned with gold glitter and beads, made its debut during the launch of Gaga’s fragrance line, Fame. It was meticulously hand-painted by her personal manicurist and nail artist, Aya Fukuda.
The acrylic nail had a dramatic journey, reportedly going missing during one of Gaga’s concerts, only to be recovered by a crew member at a later event. Along with the nail itself, the lucky buyer also received a photograph of the singer proudly displaying the missing nail during the same concert.
9. Elvis Presley’s Hair
In October 2009, a lock of hair believed to have once belonged to Elvis Presley fetched $18,300 at an auction in Chicago. The hair was purportedly from the time when Presley joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and was part of a collection of Elvis memorabilia offered by Gary Pepper, the late president of the Tankers Fan Club.
The sale was conducted by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers based in Chicago, who later confirmed the auction results on their website. The final price greatly surpassed the expected range of $8,000 to $12,000. While the hair was not subjected to DNA testing for authentication, it was verified through other means by John Reznikoff, an expert in authenticating celebrity hair.
Despite the sale being completed, the identity of the winning bidder remains undisclosed.
10. William Shatner’s Kidney Stone
In 2006, William Shatner, renowned for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in Star Trek, made headlines by successfully auctioning off his kidney stone. The unusual item was purchased by the online casino GoldenPalace.com for $25,000, a significant increase from their initial offer of $15,000. Shatner later directed the entire sum to the housing charity Habitat for Humanity.
GoldenPalace.com, known for its collection of eccentric acquisitions, added Shatner’s kidney stone alongside items like a potato resembling Pete Townsend and a toasted sandwich resembling the Virgin Mary (or at least what is imagined to be her likeness). During an interview, Shatner humorously speculated that under extreme heat, the kidney stone might transform into a diamond, though this suggestion was clearly made in jest.
