Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket sold for $1.8 million at Julien's auction

The red and black jacket with the label 'Marc Laurent Paris' that Michael Jackson wore during the Thriller video has been sold for $1.8 million at Julien's auction in Beverly Hills, California, according to the auctioneer's website. The jacket was sold to a Texas gold trader who plans to use it to raise money for children’s hospitals worldwide.

The jacket had been given to Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, Michael Jackson's longtime costume designers, to use as a reference for concert performances of the Thriller song. It includes an inscription to them on the jacket's lining, and the sleeve is signed, "Love. Michael Jackson."

The winning price was exponentially above the estimated bid of $200,000 to $400,000.

Part of the proceeds will go toward the Shambala Preserve where Jackson's two former Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, have been living the past five years.

The jacket wasn't the only piece of history from King of Pop that was part of the auction. The signature fedora Jackson wore during his Bad Tour was sold for $16,250, a handwritten note to friend Elizabeth Taylor went for $5,625 and a signed pillowcase sold for $3,584, the actual glove he wore to the American Music Awards in 1984 sold for $330,000, more than 10 times what Julien's had expected to get.

"Michael Jackson has an unbelievable fan base," Darren Julien, the auction house's president, told CNN earlier this month.

“It’s probably the best auction we have ever assembled,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions. The auction was held at the Julien’s Auctions Gallery on Saturday and Sunday in Beverly Hills.

“Michael’s global appeal continues to rise,” Nolan said. “This is the legacy. This is what Michael Jackson wanted. What would be his legacy? And we have it.”

MJFS