A single glittery sock once worn by late pop legend Michael Jackson during a 1997 concert in France has been sold for more than $8,000, according to a French auctioneer.
The sock, worn by Jackson during his History World Tour, was discovered by a technician near the pop icon’s dressing room following his performance in Nîmes in July 1997, auctioneer Aurore Illy told AFP.
Described as a white athletic sock embellished with rhinestones, the item became instantly recognizable through Jackson’s performances of his classic hit “Billie Jean.” The performer is seen wearing similar socks in archived footage from that tour, as noted by auction site interencheres.com.
Now discolored and stained with age, the off-white sock still bears its original rhinestones—though they’ve yellowed over time, according to images posted online.
“It really is an exceptional object — even a cult one for Michael Jackson fans,” Illy remarked.
Originally estimated to sell for between €3,000 and €4,000 ($3,400 to $4,500), the sock fetched €7,688 (approximately $8,822) during the auction held in Nîmes.
Jackson memorabilia continues to draw high interest from collectors. In 2009, a glittery glove worn during the singer’s debut “moonwalk” performance in 1983 was acquired by a Macau gaming resort for $350,000. More recently, in 2023, a hat Jackson wore just prior to that iconic moment sold in Paris for over $80,000.
Michael Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50 from a drug overdose. Despite facing multiple allegations of child molestation during and after his lifetime—which both he and his estate denied—he remains one of the most influential and followed figures in pop music history.
