Fans are often obsessed with their favourite celebrities and things that were once owned by them. And something similar happened during the auction of Marilyn Monroe's belongings.
Marilyn Monroe rose to fame for her work in films such as How to Marry a Millionaire. However, with fame came constant limelight, public scrutiny and exploitation. And, unfortunately for the star, it has often surpassed her past successes. The actress has had obsessive fans over the years, some of whom still want to get their hands on items she used back in the day. However, things got insane when her decades-old bra was auctioned, and it crossed thousands of dollars in the bid.
A bidding war has started over Marilyn Monroe's undergarments, and it is the most bizarre thing the internet has seen. The actress passed away on August 4, 1962. However, that has not once affected her fame or people's obsession with it. The currently ongoing bidding war has taken an insane turn with bidders splashing out over USD 5,000 for the provocative piece. The item, a 36C brassiere dating back to the 1950s, is up for auction on Thursday, June 4, 2026 (ET), along with dozens of other items belonging to the Hollywood legend.
The bid for Marilyn Monroe's 36C brassiere started at just USD 25, but it soon reached the thousands and quickly surpassed the estimate of USD 1,000 to USD 2,000, with 13 bids already registered. Martin Nolan, the executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, the enterprise organising the bid, reacted to the massive bids and said they expect it to go even higher, reaching around USD 20,000.
He shared how people were obsessed with Marilyn Monroe's breasts. He recalled that the last time one of her bras was up for auction, a woman asked to "smell it". Julien's Auctions executive director and co-founder, Martin Nolan, revealed that people just want to feel closer to the iconic actress and believe that nothing is more personal and intimate than her 36C brassiere. He was quoted as saying:
"It's priceless. Many people will wait until Thursday to bid. I expect it to easily exceed USD 20,000. There's interest all over the world. People are obsessed with her breasts. People want to feel close to her, and there's nothing more personal and intimate. She created this brand, and part of that brand is her breasts."
Also expected to cause a bidding war at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills at 10 am on Thursday, June 4, 2026, are the gates to the Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe tragically died by probable suicide. The wood structures, seen in the news footage from August 4, 1962, when the model was wheeled out of the home on a gurney, stayed with the house until 1984. Monroe bought them on July 19, 1962, for USD 314, just a couple of weeks before she died. "They weigh 2,000 pounds, they were in disrepair, they've been restored," Nolan explained.
However, that is not all. The bombshell's make-up is also of particular interest during the upcoming auction. According to reports, Marilyn Monroe's makeup collection has often been the subject of discussion even decades after her death. And her lipstick has reached USD 7,000 in early bidding, with the price expected to shoot much higher. The auction is being presented by Julien's and TCM as part of 100 Years of Marilyn to celebrate her 100th birthday. Nolan reflected on the fondness behind everything used by the actress and was quoted as saying:
"Again, the brand of Marilyn, what colour lipstick did she use? Which mascara did she wear?. The fascination is her beauty."
What are your thoughts on the bids on Marilyn Monroe's bra?
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