Skip to content
Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston items top half a million dollars at Heritage Auctions

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Whitney Houston's stage-worn Dolce & Gabbana multicolored fur coat, sold for $16,250. Heritage Auctions image
Whitney Houston’s stage-worn Dolce & Gabbana multicolored fur coat, sold for $16,250. Heritage Auctions image

 

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Whitney Houston’s pair of Nike Air Jordan sneakers (below) gifted to the late singer by Michael Jordan, circa 1990, which sold for $20,000, and her stage-worn Dolce & Gabbana multicolored fur coat, which sold for $16,250, took top lot honors as Heritage Auctions presented the Whitney Houston Collection June 24-25 as part of the company’s Entertainment & Music Signature® Auction.

 

Nike Air Jordan sneakers gifted to Whitney Houston by Michael Jordan, inscribed and signed by the basketball legend. Estimate: $16,0900-$24,000. Price realized: $20,000. Heritage Auctions image
Nike Air Jordan sneakers gifted to Whitney Houston by Michael Jordan, inscribed and signed by the basketball legend. Estimate: $16,0900-$24,000. Price realized: $20,000. Heritage Auctions image

 

Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The hand-picked mementos from Houston’s life and career sold for a combined $525,390. The auction brought 78.5 percent above estimate and was 99 percent sold by value.

“The auction proves generations of fans are still in love with Whitney Houston’s legacy and contribution to music,” said Greg Rohan, president of Heritage Auctions. “We take great pride in presenting this collection and the results are extremely satisfying, despite the fact we were barred from selling her Emmy.”

Houston’s 1986 Emmy for her performance of Saving All My Love for You at the 28th annual Grammy Awards was withdrawn from the auction just a day before the auction following a court-ordered injunction by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Rohan commented, “As ordered, the award was withdrawn from the auction and returned to the Houston family.”

Stage worn dresses and costumes seen in her videos proved popular as a Whitney Houston Stage-Worn Dolce & Gabbana coat which sold for $16,250; a stunning hand-painted and State-Word Dolce & Gabbana gown from 1999 sold for $13,750, both against a $3,000 estimate, respectively.

Personally owned mementos sparked bidding wars as a 1992 one-of-a-kind Marc Bouwer-designed wedding gown brought $15,000, a unique, fold-out passport (below), signed, used during nine years of international tours 1985 ended at $11,250; and her pair of gold-tone drop earrings worn in her My Name is Not Susan video sold for $4,750, against a $1,000 estimate.

 

Whitney Houston, U.S. passport, signed, 1985. Estimate: $1,600-$2,400. Price realized: $11,250. Heritage Auctions image
Whitney Houston, U.S. passport, signed, 1985. Estimate: $1,600-$2,400. Price realized: $11,250. Heritage Auctions image

 

Bidders from around the world sought a bevy of awards celebrating her epic career and unique voice:

  • Whitney Houston Billboard Award for I Will Always Love You, 1993: Realized: $17,500.
  • Whitney Houston MTV Europe Music Award, 1999: Realized: $17,500.
  • Whitney Houston – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video How Will I Know, 1986: Realized: $16,250.
  • Whitney Houston American Music Award in the Category of “Favorite Album, Soul/Rhythm & Blues” for The Bodyguard, 1994: Realized: $15,000.
  • Whitney Houston American Music Award in the Category of “Favorite Video Single, Soul/R&B” for the song Saving All My Love for You, 1986: Realized: $12,500.
  • Whitney Houston’s People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Female Musical Performer,” 1988: Realized: $5,500.
  • Whitney Houston’s People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Female Musical Performer,” 1989: Realized: $4,625.
  • Whitney Houston Billboard Award for “#1 R&B Album” for The Bodyguard, 1993: Realized: $10,000.
  • Whitney Houston & David Foster NARAS Recognition Certificate for I Will Always Love You, 1993: Realized: $2,250.
  • Whitney Houston RIAA Hologram Gold Sales Award for I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), 1987: Realized: $2,500.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.