A single glittery sock once worn by the late pop icon Michael Jackson during a 1997 concert in France has fetched over Ksh. 1 million at an auction held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
According to the auctioneer, the sock—covered in glitter—was discovered by a technician after Jackson’s performance in the southern French city of Nîmes.
The item had been carefully preserved in a frame for 28 years before finally being put up for sale in the same city.
“This is truly an extraordinary item, almost a cult artifact for Michael Jackson fans,” said Ms. Illy, the auctioneer.
Michael Jackson’s clothing, particularly pieces worn during memorable performances, has continued to command high prices since his death in 2009.
A glittery glove he wore during his first-ever “moonwalk” in 1983 was bought by a Chinese gaming resort for Ksh. 44.9 million.
Other items have also attracted strong interest from collectors. A hat worn just before the moonwalk performance sold for over Ksh. 10 million in Paris in 2023.
That same year, a black-and-white leather jacket Jackson wore in a 1980s Pepsi commercial sold for Ksh. 43 million.
In 2011, the contents of the home Jackson shared with his three children before his death were auctioned for approximately Ksh. 129 million.
Among the items was the rug beneath his deathbed, which sold for more than Ksh. 2.5 million.
