Julien's Auctions

Julien's Auctions
Company type	Private
Industry	Art, auctions
Founded	2003; 21 years ago
Headquarters	13007 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, California 90249
Key people	Darren Julien (Founder, President); Martin J. Nolan (Executive Director, Founder);
Website	www.juliensauctions.com

Julien's Auctions is a privately held auction house based in Beverly Hills, California founded in 2003 by Darren Julien and co-owned with Martin Nolan. They specialize in auctions of film memorabilia, music memorabilia, sports memorabilia, Fashion and street and contemporary art. Julien's Auctions has received attention for their auctions of various high-profile items. They have handled collections and estates from entertainers such as Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Banksy, Cher, Bob Mackie, Michael Jackson, Tompkins and Bush, Slash, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Frank Zappa, Greta Garbo, Nirvana, Hugh Hefner, Sharon Tate, Pelé, Elvis Presley, Burt Reynolds, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Sylvester Stallone, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John, Bette Midler, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, Betty White, Don McLean and Fleetwood Mac. The auction house's first placement was in 2009 for the sale of one of Michael Jackson's bejeweled white gloves which sold for $420,000.

Notable auctions and sales records

In May 2024, John Lennon's 12-string Hootenanny, heard on Help! album and film, had not been seen or played for half a century sold for $2.9 million, setting a new world record for the highest-selling guitar at auction in Beatles history.

John Lennon Guitar

In December 2023, a Jacques Azagury black and blue evening dress worn by Princess Diana sold for $1.15 million, , setting a new world record for the most expensive Princess Diana dress ever sold.
In December 2017, Neil Young’s 1953 Buick Roadmaster sold for $400,000.^[1]
In December 2011, a 1915 prototype for Coca-Cola's iconic bottle sold for $240,000 with its original concept drawing selling for $228,000.^[2]
In October 2010, the company's first auction in Asia took place at Ponte 16 Macau, the 'Most Expensive Basketball' is sold from a Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan video for $304,000.^[3]
In 2009, Michael Jackson's signature white glove sold for $420,000 and his white socks sold for $65,000; in 2011 the jacket he wore in his 1983 "Thriller" music video sold for $1,800,000.^[4]

Michael Jackson Thriller Jacket

In November 2015, a Gibson J-160E guitar that was stolen from John Lennon in the late 1960s sold for $2,410,000.^[5] The same auction also sold Ringo Starr’s 1964 drumhead from The Ed Sullivan Show for $5,050,000.
In December 2015, Ringo Starr's drum kit achieved a World Record for "Most Expensive Drum Kit" when it sold for $9,110,000; in that same auction, Starr's personal copy of The Beatles White Album sold for $990,000.^[6]
In June 2016, world association football icon Pelé auctioned off his personal career-related memorabilia totaling over $5,000,000.^[7]
In November 2016, Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress sold for $4,800,000. As of 2022, it remains the most expensive gown ever bought at an auction.^[8]
In June 2020, the guitar used by Kurt Cobain on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York sold for US$6 million.^[9]