$10million thriller! Michael Jackson's jacket goes up for sale

An emblematic piece of pop culture history is poised to return to the spotlight as Michael Jackson's black and red Thriller jacket is scheduled for auction this December. This leather garment, worn during the groundbreaking 1983 music video that transformed the medium, is anticipated to command a price exceeding $10 million, potentially surpassing previous records for music memorabilia.

The jacket is distinguished by its vivid red and black color scheme, silver buckles, a red silk lining, and a trapunto-stitched collar, all culminating in the striking winged shoulders that accentuated Jackson’s stage presence. Designed by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, the costume emphasized Jackson's physique with its sharp V-shaped silhouette, a look that has become inseparably linked to the pop icon’s image.

Uniquely, the jacket up for auction is one of two created for the Thriller video, but unlike the one used in zombie transformation scenes—intentionally shredded and preserved by Jackson’s estate—this particular jacket features in the dance sequences where Jackson appears without makeup. The provenance is further enhanced by personal inscriptions inside the lining, signed by Jackson himself and addressed to his long-time costume collaborators Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, who replicated and adapted the jacket for his live tours.

The auction, organized by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, follows previous high-profile sales of Jackson memorabilia, including the same jacket fetching $1.8 million in 2011 and the rhinestone glove worn during the 1983 Motown 25 performance where Jackson unveiled the moonwalk. The glove, often dubbed the “Holy Grail” of Jackson collectibles, is also part of the upcoming auction, marking its first public sale since 2009.

Beyond the jacket and glove, other items from Jackson’s career will be offered, such as the black leather Florsheim loafers worn during Thriller rehearsals and recording, with estimated values ranging from $30,000 to $50,000. These artifacts collectively represent seminal moments in Jackson's career and the evolution of music video as a cinematic art form.

The Thriller video itself has earned a permanent place in cultural history, having been inducted into the US Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2009 due to its artistic and cultural significance—a unique honor for a music video. The album Thriller also stands as a landmark achievement, securing eight Grammy Awards in 1984 and establishing Jackson as a global phenomenon.

Ahead of the December auction in Los Angeles, the collection will embark on a global preview tour, beginning with an unveiling event in Los Angeles on October 7, followed by displays in Osaka, Japan, and Bahrain. It will also feature at Prince Jackson's Heal Los Angeles Foundation's annual 'This Is Thriller' event, held at the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, an important filming location for the original video.

In November, a preview will be held in Bahrain, organized in partnership with an event management company, before the collection is exhibited during Formula 1 week at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. The final stop before auction will be the Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, underscoring the international fascination with Jackson’s legacy.

The auction house responsible for the sale, Julien’s Auctions, has previously set world records with Jackson memorabilia and emphasizes the deep cultural impact these items represent. The Thriller jacket and related artifacts not only symbolize Jackson’s artistic innovations but also continue to resonate as pivotal artifacts of 20th-century popular culture.

As the auction date approaches, collectors and fans alike will be watching closely to see if this iconic piece can break the record set earlier this year by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour’s guitar, which sold for $14.55 million. The jacket’s sale will affirm the enduring power and value of Michael Jackson’s influence on music, fashion, and entertainment worldwide.