MARILYN MONROE’S WILL AND ESTATE
The Artifacts of an Icon
Marilyn Monroe’s Will and the Transfer of Her Estate
News of the death of Marilyn Monroe was announced on August 5, 1962. In her will, Marilyn Monroe bequeathed all of her personal effects and clothing to her acting mentor, Lee Strasberg:
“I give and bequeath all of my personal effects and clothing to LEE STRASBERG… it being my desire that he distribute these, in his sole discretion, among my friends, colleagues and those to whom I am devoted.”
When Lee Strasberg died in February 1982, the Marilyn Monroe estate items in his possession passed to his third wife, Anna Strasberg. His second wife, Paula Strasberg, Marilyn’s close friend and acting coach, had passed away in 1966.
Working with Anna Strasberg and the Final Estate Inventory
In 2018, I worked with Anna Strasberg on behalf of Julien’s Auctions to inventory the remaining items from Marilyn Monroe’s estate. Over several trips to New York, I gained insight into Anna’s life with Lee Strasberg and her long stewardship of Marilyn’s personal property. Read about my time working with Anna here.
Before his death, Lee told Anna:
“You must always honor and protect Marilyn.”
For decades, Anna attempted to fulfill that responsibility.
Many Marilyn Monroe fans question how the Strasbergs handled Marilyn’s estate and whether her wishes were honored. However, the full story is more nuanced than public perception suggests.
According to Anna, Lee was surprised to learn that Marilyn Monroe had left her personal possessions to him. He did not know of her wishes until after her death, when the will became public. By the time the Strasbergs formally took possession of the estate, many individuals close to Marilyn had already passed away, making distribution more complicated than originally envisioned.
Despite public assumptions surrounding later auctions, Marilyn Monroe’s will was followed. Efforts were made to locate friends and colleagues and distribute items in accordance with her stated wishes.
The 1999 Christie’s Auction: “The Sale of the Century”
For decades, Anna Strasberg preserved Marilyn Monroe’s belongings in climate controlled, high security storage.
In October 1999, Anna consigned the bulk of Marilyn Monroe’s estate to Christie’s. The two day auction, widely known as “The Sale of the Century,” generated more than $13 million across nearly 576 lots.
Items included:
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Marilyn Monroe clothing and furs
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Shoes and accessories
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Furniture from her Brentwood home
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Film scripts
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Jewelry
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Cosmetics
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Books from Marilyn Monroe’s personal library
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Awards and household items
This landmark Marilyn Monroe auction reshaped the celebrity memorabilia market.
View items from the landmark 1999 Christie’s Marilyn Monroe auction here.
Record Breaking Sales from Marilyn Monroe Auctions
Among the most notable sales:
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The dress Marilyn Monroe wore while singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962 sold in 1999 for nearly $1.3 million, at the time the most expensive personal dress ever sold at auction.
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The same dress sold again in 2016 through Julien’s Auctions for $4,810,000.
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The white subway dress from The Seven Year Itch sold in 2011 for a reported $5.6 million, though the transaction is believed by some to have fallen through.
Additional portions of Marilyn Monroe’s estate were auctioned in:
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2001 through Christie’s Los Angeles (benefiting Hollygrove, her childhood orphanage)
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2005 through Julien’s Auctions
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2016 in the final major estate sale at Julien’s Auctions, totaling nearly $11 million
The Ongoing Legacy of the Marilyn Monroe Estate
Many items within The Marilyn Monroe Collection originated directly from these estate auctions. In some cases, friends of Marilyn Monroe have also donated personal items to the collection.
Today, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most sought after figures in the world of celebrity property and entertainment memorabilia collecting. Items from the Marilyn Monroe estate continue to command significant attention and rising values at auction.
Her cultural relevance, historical importance, and enduring popularity ensure that Marilyn Monroe estate artifacts remain among the most important in entertainment history.
Buy, Sell, Trade Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia on Facebook
If you wish to buy, sell or trade Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, visit the Marilyn Monroe Collection’s “Buy, Sell, Trade” Facebook group here.
Learn About Marilyn Monroe
Discover more about the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe.