You may remember that when Michael Jackson passed away unexpectedly in 2009 at the age of 50, the executors of his estate faced the daunting task of cataloging his extensive and often eccentric collection of assets. Amidst the glittering gloves and exotic pets, one particularly illustrious item was conspicuously absent: the Best Picture Oscar awarded to producer David O. Selznick for the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind. For those less familiar with this particular Hollywood classic, check out this, somewhat dated, trailer.
When Jackson bought the Oscar
Jackson, an avid movie enthusiast, had acquired this piece of Hollywood history in 1999, shelling out a staggering $1.54 million at a Sotheby’s auction. This sum set a record for the highest amount ever paid for an Academy Award statuette, far surpassing the pre-auction estimate of $300,000. And for those wondering, it’s worth noting that the 1940 Oscar was awarded before the Academy implemented rules prohibiting the sale of its awards, making this transaction entirely legitimate at the time.
The pop icon, based on multiple reports, is believed to have kept the Oscar either at his famed Neverland Ranch near Ojai, California, or at his residence in Los Angeles, where he was living at the time of his death. However, despite thorough searches of both properties, the golden statuette was nowhere to be found, and theories about its disappearance abound, some linked to a misplacing, others more deliberate pilfering.
Howard Weitzman, the attorney for Jackson’s estate, responded to the ongoing mystery a few years back. “The estate does not know where the Gone with the Wind statuette is. We would like to have that Oscar because it belongs to Michael’s children. I’m hopeful it will turn up at some point.”
As the years have passed, the whereabouts of this iconic piece of cinema history remain unknown, adding another layer to the enigmatic legacy of Michael Jackson. Just how much would it be worth if found now?
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