A significant piece of music history has emerged from the shadows as a stage sock worn by the legendary Michael Jackson sold for €7,688 (approximately $8,911) at an auction held in southern France. The auction took place on Wednesday, and the sock, adorned with rhinestones, was worn during a performance in Nîmes in 1997 as part of Jackson’s acclaimed HIStory World Tour.
Discovered backstage after the show, the off-white sock, which bears signs of wear, was preserved in a frame for nearly three decades. According to auctioneer Aurore Illy, the sock is considered an “exceptional object” and holds cult status among Michael Jackson fans. “It really is an exceptional object — even a cult one for Michael Jackson fans,” Illy stated in an interview with AFP.
The HIStory World Tour, which spanned 1996 to 1997, included 82 shows across 35 countries. During this tour, Jackson captivated audiences with his performance of hits like “Billie Jean,” where he famously wore the now-iconic rhinestone sock. Auctioneers had predicted that the sock would sell for between €3,000 and €4,000, but the final bid nearly doubled their expectations.
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Jackson due to longstanding child molestation allegations, which he and his estate have consistently denied, the market for his memorabilia remains robust. In 2009, a casino in Macau paid $350,000 for the rhinestone glove that Jackson wore during his first televised moonwalk in 1983. More recently, in 2023, a Paris buyer acquired a fedora worn by Jackson for over $80,000, while a black-and-white leather jacket from his 1984 Pepsi advertisement sold for an astonishing $306,000.
Michael Jackson’s passing in 2009 at the age of 50 from a fatal drug overdose has not diminished his influence or the value of his memorabilia. Instead, his legacy continues to thrive, with collectors and fans eager to acquire items that celebrate his extraordinary career.
As the auction of Jackson’s sock illustrates, the fascination with his life and work remains strong, reflecting both his artistic legacy and the enduring interest in the King of Pop.