New York – On Wednesday, 28 February, Christie’s concluded The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road, a series of sales comprising more than 900 objects celebrating Elton John’s discerning eye for collecting and the impact the city of Atlanta had on his life. In total the collection realized $20,537,842, well in excess of the low estimate of $10 million. Photography accounted for approximately one third of the collection, with photographs comprising 350 of the total lots. In total, the full collection realized 200% against low estimate and 73% of lots sold above their high estimate, 47% of the bidders participating in the sale were new to Christie’s with 86% of winning bids placed online.

Bonnie Brennan, President, Christie’s Americas, says: “It was a great honor for Christie’s to have been entrusted with the auction of the contents of Elton John's Atlanta home. The collection was assembled over 30 years in an American city that meant so much to Elton John and his family. Beyond including artistic and personal treasures the sale cemented the cultural legacy of one of the world's most iconic figures. It was an absolute privilege to present these objects to the thousands of fans and collectors who visited our galleries, enabling us to celebrate both Elton John's exceptional eye as a collector and the vibrant chapter Atlanta played in his life.”

Tash Perrin, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Americas, comments: “Collaborating with Elton John and David Furnish to steward the collection offered in Goodbye Peachtree Road was a truly memorable experience.  The enthusiasm of Elton’s fans was equally memorable, especially the first client on the first day of viewing who had flown from Australia to view the collection.  The extraordinary success of the sales speaks volumes for the joy and exuberance of his eye and Elton John's lasting impact on collectors and fans alike. The sales began with an impressive $8 million on the first night and surpassed $20 million with day and online sales. Christie’s is immensely proud of these results.”

Darius Himes, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s International Head of Photographs, says: “It was thrilling to witness the depth of competitive bidding on the wide range of photographs from early modernist works to cherished celebrity portraits to the icons of fashion and style that graced Elton and David’s beloved Atlanta home.”

A Celebration of Elton John across the World

The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road became a worldwide sensation, drawing more than 9,000 visitors to Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries who were eager to pay tribute to Elton John from around the globe, from the United Kingdom to Australia. More than 450,000 collectors and fans browsed the sales online in the weeks leading up to the auctions. Christie's livestream auction attracted nearly 1 million views from around the globe.

Opening Night

The inaugural evening was an outstanding success, achieving $8 million through the auction of 49 lots. Leading the sale was Banksy’s Flower Thrower Triptych, executed in 2017, which sold for $1,925,500. Two world auction records were established for watches: a Rolex Daytona Wristwatch with a Leopard-print Dial, circa 2001, sold for $176,400, surpassing its low estimate of $40,000, and a Signed Cartier Paris Tank Normale, circa 2000, sold for $176,400, nearly nine times its low estimate of $20,000. Remarkable results also were achieved for personal and highly recognizable items, such as a Pair of Silver Leather Tall Platform Boots, circa 1971, which sold for $94,500—exceeding its low estimate by 19 times. Additionally, Elton John’s cherished 1990 Bentley Continental garnered exceptional attention, sparking lively bidding from 24 participants online, with additional bidders over the phone and in person. Ultimately, the car sold for $441,000 to a phone bidder, spectacularly surpassing its low estimate of $25,000.

The Day Sale

Sales continued 22-23 February with The Collection of Sir Elton John: The Day Sale which took place live in two sessions and totaled $6,474,132. The sale was 182% sold against low estimate with a strong showing across categories. Robert Mapplethorpe’s - Calla Lily, 1988 photograph sold for $157,500 almost three times the low estimate of $60,000, and Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Polar Bear, 1976, sold for $69,300, over four times the low estimate of $15,000. Art works featured in the sale saw exceptional results, including Todd Murphy’s Portrait of Elton, 1994, which achieved $113,400, eleven times the $10,000 high estimate, setting a new world auction record for the artist. Art glass exceeded expectations, with a work by Dale Chihuly, Rotolo 40, 2013 selling for $52,920, more than three times its high estimate of $15,000.

Online Sales (Six Total)

Across Christie’s six online sales, objects closely tied to Elton John's persona as a performer, showman, and style icon achieved remarkable results. The Online Sales were a testament to Elton John’s eclectic taste, and each generated incredible results across many different categories, totaling as a group $6,102,810 (full breakdown included below).

• The Collection of Sir Elton John: Elton's Versace - 100% sold – 252% against low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a Steven Meisel photograph Untitled II, from Four Days in LA: The Versace Pictures, 2000 which sold for $40,320 against a low estimate of $15,000
• The Collection of Sir Elton John: Honky Château - 99% sold – 243% against the low estimate. A Radcliffe Bailey Pinnin Leaves, circa 1999, photograph led the sale achieving $94,500 against a high estimate of $15,000
• The Collection of Sir Elton John: The Jewel Box - 100% sold – 372% against low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a Cartier wristwatch ‘Santos’ in Platinum and Diamond which sold for $81,900, more than eight times the high estimate of $10,000
• The Collection of Sir Elton John: Love, Lust and Devotion - 100% sold – 232% against low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a Chopard Pendant-Necklace, With Multi-Gem, Colored Diamond and Diamond Cross which sold for $47,880, four times over the low estimate of $12,000
• The Collection of Sir Elton John: Elton's Superstars - 100% sold – 256% against low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a photograph from Irving Penn Rock Groups, San Francisco, (Big Brother and the Holding Company and The Grateful Dead), 1967 achieving $40,320
• The Collection of Sir Elton John: Out of the Closet - 100% sold – 272% against low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a Rare Graffiti Monogram Canvas Géminé 8 Pair Travel Shoe Trunk Louis Vuitton by Stephen Sprouse, circa 2009 achieving $35,280 over seventeen times its high estimate of $2,000