David Gilmour’s iconic Black Fender Stratocaster sold for a record-breaking $14.55 million USD

Hephaestus

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Sep 25, 2025
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That's crazy 15 million US dollars😳. I don't think no other instrument sold for so much, even Jimi Hendrix's guitars.


Jim Irsay collected several pieces of iconic sports memorabilia during his lifetime.

The late Indianapolis Colts owner’s collection was offered in a live online auction at Christie’s, an art and luxury auction house. From Thursday through Saturday, the collection generated more than $93 million at auction, far exceeding its pre-auction $40 million estimate.

Aside from the coveted music pieces, the sports-themed items in Irsay’s collection sold at auction included Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown saddle, Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers jersey he wore when he scored his NHL record 500th goal and one of Jackie Robinson’s bats from the 1953 season.

The saddle commanded a horse racing item record price of $1.524 million, the Oilers’ jersey drew $952,500 and Robinson’s bat brought in $406,400.

"The Irsay sale did justice to the brilliance of the collector and of the monumental pieces he brought together, iconic objects that tell the story of our culture and our times," Julien Pradels, president of Christie's Americas, said in a statement.
The auction of Irsay’s memorabilia set 23 world records, including a Pink Floyd guitar becoming the most expensive ever sold at auction. Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour played the black Fender Stratocaster on six of the band's albums.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Irsay’s collection will be donated to the philanthropic causes the late NFL owner championed during his lifetime, according to Christie’s.

The FBI launched a probe into the circumstances of Irsay’s death, including a possible connection to his relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian, an addiction specialist based in California who reportedly prescribed him pain pills and ketamine.

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JeanGary Diablo

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A bit of a shocker considering Dave's still alive and well.

One interesting guitar factoid I learned just the other day -- apparently John Lennon's famous 1958 Rickenbacker 325 was exceptionally rare, being one of only eight natural-finish models that was produced that year. This was the black-and-white Ricky (he had painted and stripped it a couple times) that he used during the Beatlemania years. Making it even more rare was the fact this guitar has a really short neck length, only 20 incches.

Even if Lennon had never owned that guitar it would be worth a small fortune today.
 
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Ceiling Cat

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I know a guy that bought John Lennon's guitar many years ago. I am sure John Lennon owned many dozens of guitars, if not hundreds. Some of these guys that have scads of money do not know what to do with it.
 

xmontrealer

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I thought Stradivarius violins are the most expensive instruments.
From the interwebs:

1 The ‘Baron Knoop’ Stradivari Violin (1715)
Price: ≈ $23 million – private sale, early 2023

Crafted during Antonio Stradivari’s golden period, the Baron Knoop is considered one of the most valuable violins ever sold. The 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ violin is one of the most pristine and highly valued violins in the world. With its luminous golden-red varnish, powerful projection, and nearly flawless condition, it is revered by collectors and violinists alike.
 
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xmontrealer

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Can you imagine what Jimmy Page's "Number One" 1959 Les Paul Standard would bring at auction, or even Paul McCarney's Hofner 500/1 "Violin Bass"?
 
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