Julien’s Auctions – run by an American and his Irish business partner – added another world record to their list when the iconic “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 when she famously sang to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden sold for the record price of $4.81 million to Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
The auction started last Thursday and finished over the weekend. “Throughout the three days, bidders from around the world – some famous and more highly competitive – bid from all corners of the world on items from costumes to personal notes of the most legendary screen star of all time," said a spokesperson for Julien's Auctions.
"The dress was presented on the custom-made mannequin that was designed to match Marilyn Monroe’s exact body measurement,”
Here’s Monroe singing “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to her one-time lover John F Kennedy:

One of the biggest high profile bidders was fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger, who was interviewed by Hot Press when he last came to our shores to open his store on Grafton St.
He won with his bid for the Marilyn Monroe Pandora minaudière evening bag at auction in an unintentional bidding war with his friend, Tommy Mottola who wanted it for his wife Thalia.
The evening bag - described as an "embellished citrine crystal floret minaudière" by the auction house - included Marilyn’s lipstick, unused cigarettes, comb and a heavily used cotton powder make up buffer with mirror and two Mercury dimes dated back to between 1943 and 1945.
The two Tommy’s battled it out, with Hilfiger becoming the victor at $187,500. “He bought it as a birthday gift for his wife Dee Ocleppo who designs luxury handbags,” a source told Hot Press.
Marilyn Monroe’s Blancpain Platinum and Diamond watch was won in a bid by the Blancpain company, bringing the watch back to its original home in Switzerland. The watch sold for $225,000.
Marc A. Hayek, Blancpain President & CEO, says, “We are thrilled to have this exceptional timepiece, which was once owned by America’s most iconic star, return to its original home in Switzerland.”
Other stunning highlights included the “Some Like it Hot” cocktail dress which sold for $450,000; a Marilyn Monroe “Rose Tattoo” premiere gown which sold for $125,000; a red orange dress worn by Marilyn for a portrait which sold for $112,500; the Marilyn Monroe “Niagara” negligee which sold for $59,000.
The “No Business Like Show Business” gown sold for $81,000 and the famous “Bus Stop” costume, studio image and tear sheet sold for $100,000.
Monroe’s “The Prince and the Showgirl” gown and window card sold for $75,000, while the program from President Kennedy’s 1962 Birthday Celebration sold for $12,500, and a custom-bound copy of her ex-husband Arthur Miller’s Collected Works sold for $25,000.
Other items sold last weekend include:
• A Marilyn Monroe signed driver’s license sold for $18,750
• An original crayon figural drawing by Monroe sold for $25,000.
• Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 address book sold for $30,000
• A group of 13 LPs and 45s featuring Marilyn Monroe sold for $15,625
• a signed photograph of Marilyn Monroe sold for $14,000
• An index card signed by Marilyn Monroe sold for $7,680; Marilyn Monroe’s Prayer Book for Jewish Worship sold for $21,785
• And a pair of Marilyn Monroe’s Ferragamo shoes sold for $34,000.
“The three day auction event raised the highest amount achieved by Julien’s Auctions for one auction event,” their spokesperson added.

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