A rhinestone-studded sock once worn by pop icon Michael Jackson during a 1997 concert in France has sold for over $8,800 at auction, according to French auction house Ivoire Nîmes.
The single white athletic sock, adorned with rhinestones and visibly aged, was discovered by a technician near Jackson’s dressing room following his performance in the southern city of Nîmes during the HIStory World Tour.
Auctioneer Aurore Illy described the item as “exceptional” and “cult” for Jackson’s fans. Originally valued between €3,000 and €4,000, the sock ultimately fetched €7,688 ($8,822).
Jackson famously wore glittery white socks for his performance of Billie Jean, a signature look that became emblematic of his style. According to auction platform Interencheres, the sock now shows signs of wear, with stains and yellowed rhinestones.
The sale adds to a history of high-profile Jackson memorabilia auctions. In 2009, a Macau casino resort paid $350,000 for the glittery glove Jackson wore during his first televised “moonwalk” in 1983. A fedora worn just before that moment sold for over $80,000 in Paris in 2023.
Jackson, who died of a drug overdose in 2009 at age 50, remains a global cultural figure despite enduring controversy. Accusations of child molestation—denied by both Jackson and his estate—have continued posthumously, but his global fan base endures.
