A pair of used white athletic socks adorned with rhinestones and once worn by legendary pop icon Michael Jackson were recently auctioned in France for over $8,000, nearly tripling their initial estimate, according to the auction house Aurore Illy. These unique socks hold a special place in music history, having been worn by Jackson during his 1997 HIStory World Tour performance in Nîmes, a city in southern France.
The socks were discovered backstage after the concert by a technician near Jackson’s dressing room and have been carefully preserved ever since, framed and maintained for 28 years. According to Illy, a representative from the auction house, the socks carry both historical and emotional significance for fans, symbolizing the enduring global legacy of the King of Pop.
The auction listing on the specialist site interencheres.com noted that the socks were part of Jackson’s iconic performance of “Billie Jean,” a song forever linked to his signature Moonwalk dance. A photograph accompanying the listing showed the socks visibly stained and the rhinestones yellowed with age, underscoring their authenticity and decades of preservation.
Originally, the socks were estimated to fetch between 3,000 to 4,000 euros (approximately $3,400 to $4,500). However, in the auction held locally in Nîmes, the final price soared to 7,688 euros—roughly $8,822. When converted to Pakistani rupees, this amounts to over Rs2.26 million.
This sale adds to a growing list of valuable Michael Jackson memorabilia that continues to captivate collectors worldwide.
In 2009, a glittery glove worn during his first Moonwalk performance in 1983 was purchased by a Macau resort for $350,000. More recently, in 2023, a hat worn by Jackson moments before that same performance sold in Paris for over $80,000, and a leather jacket from his 1984 Pepsi commercial fetched more than $300,000.
Despite ongoing controversies surrounding Jackson’s life and posthumous reputation, including longstanding child abuse allegations that he and his estate have denied, the passion of his fans remains strong.
His influence on music, dance, and pop culture continues to fuel high demand for personal items associated with the late artist, who passed away in 2009 at age 50 due to a drug overdose.
