Brief
Michael Jackson’s Thriller jacket slated for $10 million auction in Los Angeles
The 1983 music‑video costume is expected to break memorabilia records when it goes under the hammer.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Julien’s Auctions announced that the black‑and‑red leather jacket Michael Jackson wore in the 1983 "Thriller" video will be offered for sale in Los Angeles in December, with a source saying the expected price is "upwards of $10 million (£7.6 million)".
What happened
The calf‑leather jacket, featuring silver buckles, a red silk lining and a trapunto‑stitched collar, was one of two made for the "Thriller" video. The other jacket, shredded for the zombie scenes, remains with Jackson’s estate and is displayed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The auction house expects the sale to set a new record for music memorabilia, potentially surpassing the $14.55 million paid for David Gilmour’s "Black Strat" guitar earlier this year.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail notes that the jacket’s interior bears a "Marc Laurent Paris" label and that its design was created by costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis to accentuate Jackson’s physique. It also details that Jackson’s long‑time costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush later used the jacket as a pattern for tour costumes, with Jackson signing the lining and sleeve with personal messages.
What was said
The article quotes a source close to the auction, stating the expected sale price, but does not name the source. It also references Jackson’s designers, noting that Bush said Jackson believed the original would need to be destroyed to make copies, yet the designers managed to pattern it without damage.
How it came about
"Thriller" transformed the music‑video format into a cinematic experience and earned eight Grammy Awards in 1984. The jacket’s cultural significance, combined with its rarity—being the only version worn by Jackson without zombie makeup—has driven interest among collectors. Earlier this year, a Pink Floyd guitar fetched $14.55 million, setting a benchmark that the Jackson jacket may now exceed.
Key facts
- Michael Jackson’s black‑and‑red Thriller jacket will be auctioned in Los Angeles in December. (dailymail.co.uk)
- A source expects the jacket to sell for upwards of $10 million (£7.6 million). (dailymail.co.uk)
- The jacket could break the record for music memorabilia, currently $14.55 million for David Gilmour’s guitar. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The jacket was designed by Deborah Nadoolman Landis and bears a "Marc Laurent Paris" label inside. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Jackson’s designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush used the jacket to create patterns for later tour costumes, with Jackson signing the lining and sleeve. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “$10million thriller! Michael Jackson's jacket goes up for sale”
