Story perspectives

Brigitte Bardot’s belongings auctioned for €953,531 in Paris

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 10:57 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bardot Auction Raises

Brigitte Bardot's personal belongings were auctioned in Paris, fetching €953,531.
More than 280 lots from her Saint-Tropez homes and Paris flat were offered at Hôtel Drouot.
The nine-hour sale attracted about 15,000 visitors during the six-day preview.
Items sold included Repetto ballet flats, a 3.67-carat diamond ring, and an Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter.
Proceeds were designated for the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.

Summary

d’Ormale Decries Auction

Bernard d’Ormale, Bardot’s widower, called the auction a “joke” and disrespectful.
He said the sale violated Bardot’s memory and should have remained for future La Madrague tours.
D’Ormale claimed he approved the auction as president but did not realize it included personal items.
The foundation rebutted, saying the board—including d’Ormale—voted in June to authorize the sale.
He now lives in a council flat without La Madrague access after his removal as president.

History

Historical Context

Marilyn Monroe’s 1995 Sotheby’s auction raised $4.6 million, echoing a decades-long appetite for celebrity memorabilia that began with iconic images like Andy Warhol’s 1962 Marilyn Diptych and persists in record-breaking sales such as the 2024 $24.1 million Babe Ruth jersey; today Hôtel Drouot’s Bardot sale mirrors Monroe’s scale, prompting scrutiny of legacy and public stewardship.

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Bardot Auction Raises

Brigitte Bardot's personal belongings were auctioned in Paris, fetching €953,531.
More than 280 lots from her Saint-Tropez homes and Paris flat were offered at Hôtel Drouot.
The nine-hour sale attracted about 15,000 visitors during the six-day preview.
Items sold included Repetto ballet flats, a 3.67-carat diamond ring, and an Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter.
Proceeds were designated for the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.

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