Los Angeles-based auction house Julien’s Auctions ended 2024 with record-breaking sales and expansion into new categories and markets in the thriving pop culture and celebrity auction scene.
It dominated and set new world records in the industry led by the high-profile sales of John Lennon’s long-lost “Help!” Hootenanny guitar ($2.9 million), LeBron James’ Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” basketball jersey ($1.3 million), George Harrison's early Beatles-era Futurama guitar ($1.27 million) and “Star Trek” holy trinity of William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk’s phaser ($910,000), communicator ($780,000) and yellow tunic ($455,000).
Here are Julien’s Auctions’ top 10 auctions in 2024.
1. John Lennon’s Long-Lost “Help!” Guitar is the Top of the Pops
Julien’s top selling item of the year was John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Help! Hootenanny acoustic guitar sold for a record $2.9 million at Hard Rock Cafe New York. The extraordinary guitar was found in an attic in the UK after being unseen for over 50 years. Considered the most important Beatles guitar ever to come to market, the guitar enters the pantheon of Julien’s world record sales of Beatles memorabilia including a previous John Lennon acoustic guitar ($2.4 million) and Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit ($2.2 million) and The Ludwig Beatles “Ed Sullivan Show” drumhead ($2.1 million), and “The Beatles” (White Album), owned by Ringo Starr, that sold for $790,000.
John Lennon "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" Acoustic Guitar (Julien's Auctions)
2. King James, Bruce Lee Hold Court in Hong Kong
The legacy of LeBron James and “Legends in Motion” sale featuring Bruce Lee, BTS, Michael Jackson and more lit up Hong Kong in Julien’s spectacular first auction held in the cosmopolitan arts city on Sep 28. Kicking off with a museum style public exhibition at Pacific Place that drew a record number of 43,000 visitors and a premier viewing at Lamborghini showroom, the all-star auction items brought in $3 million and a new world record for the NBA icon’s Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” jersey ($1.3 million/HKD10,140,000). The auction marked the 3rd Julien’s exhibition in town after Icons: Playboy, Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe at Fringe Club in January and Princess Diana at K11 MUSEA in April, underscoring Julien’s commitment to their presence and expansion in the dynamic Asia market.
K–pop group BTS’ ensemble worn in the “Life Goes On” sold for $88,900.
Lebron James' "The Chosen One" jersey (Julien's Auctions)
BTS' ensemble for "Life Goes On" music video (Julien's Auctions / HYBE)
3. Princess Diana Elegance & Royal Collection
Princess Diana's Elegance & Royal Collection on Jun 27 was the most significant auction of her garments and accessories in 25 years. The exhibition toured Hong Kong, New York, Ireland, and Los Angeles, attracting huge crowds and culminating in a record-breaking sale of $5.5 million, enhancing Julien's reputation as the top auction house for Princess Diana items. The exhibition in Hong Kong showcased her 1987 Victor Edelstein evening dress, sold for $910,000, 1986 Murray Arbeid Midnight Blue Tulle Diamante Star, sold for $780,000 and the 1989 Hong Kong Royal Tour Catherine Walker skit suit, sold for $325,000. The “home coming” exhibition in Hong Kong was welcomed by the public at K11 MUSEA and the premier viewing at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
(Julien's Auctions)
4. “Friends” 30th Anniversary Auction
Warner Bros. Television and Julien’s Auctions partnered to celebrate thirty years of “Friends” in a headline making white glove auction on Sept. 23 that created a fan frenzy of nostalgia and bidding over the coveted collection of iconic costumes, props and memorabilia from the smash television sitcom. Fans pivoted for screen-worn sweaters, shirts and coats worn by Rachel, Ross, Monica, Joey, Phoebe and Chandler as well as for the iconic Central Perk studio made couch that fetched an impressive $29,250.
(Julien's Auctions)
5.Unstoppable Fashion and Luxury
Following the record sale of Princess Diana’s 1985 Jacques Azagury dress in December 2023, Julien's showcased iconic celebrity fashion on Jan. 18, including Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw tutu, which sold for $52,000 and Grace Kelly’s 1961 Givenchy when visiting Washington D.C sold for $325,000. The year ended with a white glove sale of Bob Mackie's dazzling collection on Dec. 11.
(Julien's Auctions)
6. New World Record for “Star Trek” Memorabilia
Julien's Auctions set a world record for Star Trek memorabilia during the “Bid, Long & Prosper” sale on Nov. 9 by offering 200 original props and costumes, totaling US$3.6 million including William Shatner’s long-lost phaser ($910,000) and communicator ($780,000), as well as Shatner's Captain Kirk yellow tunic ($455,000) and the USS Enterprise helm ($260,000).
7. Olivia Newton-John’s “Grease” Jacket
The property from the estate of Olivia Newton-John on Dec. 13 celebrated the artist’s life and legacy with a white glove sale and benefited The Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, with The iconic black leather motorcycle jacket from the 1978 film “Grease” sold for $476,250, together with over 1,000 famous entertainment items in Julien's “A Week of Hollywood Legends,” reinforcing the auction house’ unique partnership with TCM and as a leading destination for Hollywood memorabilia and their commitment to preserving movie magic.
(Julien's Auctions)
8. World record of Beatles George Harrison Guitar
George Harrison and Julien’s made Beatles history once again in the world record $1.27 million sale of his early Beatles-era Futurama guitar, the highest selling instrument played by George Harrison. The iconic guitar that been played in over 324 Beatles performances and on their first official recordings for Polydor was sold at the blockbuster two-day music auction Played, Worn and Torn II on Nov. 20 and 21.
(Julien's Auctions)
9. MusiCares Charity Auction at GRAMMY event
This year marked a special milestone for Julien’s and their longtime partner, MusiCares, when the auction house and leading music industry charity’s relief auction was named as an official GRAMMY event. The annual initiative that offers the best music memorabilia from the biggest names in music from the likes of Taylor Swift to Christine McVie to support the underserved music community was also held for the first time ever at the GRAMMY Museum in a multi-camera livestream production that offered a unique pre-GRAMMY Awards experience to a global audience.
10. Auctions at Nashville (Music City)
Julien’s officially put its boots on the ground to make Music City “Auction City” with their exclusive exhibitions and wildly successful auctions this year of Music Icons, Christine McVie in Oct and Played Worn and Torn II at the esteemed Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum to build their expansion of music memorabilia auctions and events in the great city of Nashville.