Michael Jackson's Iconic 'Thriller' Jacket Heads to Auction, Expected to Fetch Over $10 Million

The black and red jacket that Michael Jackson wore in the groundbreaking 1983 "Thriller" music video is set to go up for auction, with experts anticipating it could sell for upwards of $10 million. The iconic piece of pop music history will be offered by Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in December.

This calf-leather jacket is one of only two created for the "Thriller" video. The other was deliberately distressed and altered for scenes where Jackson appears as a zombie and is currently retained by his estate. The jacket to be auctioned is the one worn by Jackson during the segments of the video when he is not in zombie makeup.

Costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis conceived the jacket's distinctive design, aiming to emphasize Jackson's physique with exaggerated shoulders and a V-shaped silhouette. Following the video's success, Jackson's costume designers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, were tasked with creating variations for his live performances. Jackson reportedly gave them the original jacket to create a pattern, inscribed with personal messages, "To Bush and Dennis All My Love Michael Jackson" on the lining and "Love Michael Jackson" on the sleeve.

The "Thriller" video itself is considered a cultural landmark, instrumental in transforming the music video into a cinematic art form. The album of the same name achieved a record eight Grammy Awards in 1984, and the "Thriller" video was later selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for permanent preservation due to its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.

This jacket could potentially break the overall record for music memorabilia, which is currently held by Pink Floyd legend David Gilmour's 'Black Strat' guitar, sold for $14.55 million this year. The "Thriller" jacket previously sold for $1.8 million in 2011.

Alongside the "Thriller" jacket, other notable items from Jackson's career will also be available. These include a pair of black leather Florsheim loafers worn during the "Thriller" video and its rehearsals, estimated between $30,000 and $50,000. Also up for bid is the rhinestone-studded glove Jackson wore during his iconic performance of "Billie Jean" at Motown 25, where he debuted the moonwalk. This glove was previously purchased for a record $430,000 in 2009.

![The red is expected to break records for music memorabilia when it goes under the hammer at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in December. A source indicated it was expected to sell for 'upwards of $10million [£7.6million]']( "The red is expected to break records for music memorabilia when it goes under the hammer at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in December. A source indicated it was expected to sell for 'upwards of $10million [£7.6million]'）」

Martin Nolan, executive director at Julien's Auctions, described the collection as "pieces of history" that "changed pop culture forever." The "Thriller" jacket is referred to by organizers as the "Holy Grail of Michael Jackson memorabilia."

These items are part of a larger series of auctions and exhibitions planned in Abu Dhabi. Selected highlights will embark on an international tour, beginning with a U.S. press unveiling in Los Angeles on October 7, followed by a display in Osaka, Japan. The pieces will also be featured at Prince Jackson's Heal Los Angeles Foundation's annual "This Is Thriller" event before a preview in Bahrain in November. The final auction is scheduled for December 8 and 9 in Los Angeles.