Julien s Auctions offered more than 1,500 lots from the TV star's life and career during a three-day event in Beverly Hills, California, beginning Sept. 23. The auction, estimated to bring in about $600,000, made more than $4 million.
Thousands of fans participated in the event and every single item was sold.
Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien's Auctions, told FOX Business that you would be hard pressed to find an individual as iconic and well-loved as Betty White.
This auction was a collection unlike anything we've seen before, which brought in record-breaking results and thousands of loyal fans from all over the world who participated, he shared. Julien's Auctions is honored to have shared this collection with the world, and to have paid tribute to this American pop culture legend during this three-day celebration. BETTY WHITE Numerous items attracted a lot of attention in the top bidders. A director chair used by White on the set of The Golden Girls sold for $76,800, which was 76 times its original estimate of $1,000. White s silky lavender dress, which she wore as her character Rose Nylund in the sitcom, sold for $32,000 or 55 times its original estimate of $600. White's teleplays for the pilot and final episodes of The Golden Girls sold for $57,600 and $51,200 per lot. An ivory knit sweater that read, St. Olafants, sold elephants for $12,800, amongst others.
It wasn't just Golden Girls memorabilia that collectors were after. Items from White's California home, including furniture, artwork and more, sold quickly. The yellow-painted front door from White's longtime Brentwood residence sold for $10,000. A 1950s oil painting of White wearing a red and white dress with opera gloves sold for $43,750. A large decorative needlepoint wall hanging of exotic birds and butterflies brought in $22,400. A sapphire and diamond pendant necklace worn on The Mary Tyler Moore Show sold for $35,200, or 35 times its original estimate.
White's wedding ring, which had an estimated starting bid of $600, sold for $25,600.
White died on New Year s Eve 2021 at age 99, a TV regular for more than 60 years with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland. She would have turned 100 on January 17.
Nolan previously told FOX Business that it was wonderful to work with Betty White's estate. Betty received our catalogs for years before she passed away. The estate was familiar with the process. The estate wanted to emphasize that it is for her fans, and that is the most important message the estate wanted to emphasize. In February and March of this year I had the opportunity to work in her home in Brentwood, California.