When you think of celebrity memorabilia, you probably picture glittering guitars, designer handbags, or signed sports jerseys. Yet the world of star‑owned oddities stretches far beyond the usual glitz, landing us smack‑dab in a market where used tissues, broken nails, and even kidney stones fetch eye‑watering sums. Below, we count down the 10 weirdest celebrity objects ever to change hands, proving that fame can turn even the most mundane thing into a collector’s dream.
Why These 10 Weirdest Celebrity Items Capture Our Curiosity
10 Lady Gaga’s Fingernail
Lady Gaga’s infamous black acrylic nail—affectionately dubbed the “monster claw” by her legion of fans—hit the auction block in 2013 and walked away with roughly $12,000. This glitter‑laden, gold‑beaded masterpiece first made its debut at the launch of her fragrance line, Fame, and was meticulously hand‑painted by her trusted manicurist, Aya Fukuda. The nail’s flamboyant design perfectly matched Gaga’s avant‑garde aesthetic.
The story behind the nail’s disappearance adds a dramatic twist. During one of her high‑energy concerts, the nail vanished, only to be recovered later by a crew member on a subsequent tour. The lucky buyer not only received the glittering nail but also a candid photograph of Gaga flashing that very same missing nail onstage, turning a simple accessory into a piece of pop‑culture history.
9 Justin Bieber’s Boa Constrictor
At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, a teenage Justin Bieber strutted onto the stage clutching a live baby albino boa constrictor, which he christened Johnson. The reptile quickly became a headline‑grabbing accessory, but Bieber’s flirtation with the snake was short‑lived. Within months, the creature was listed in a charity auction, with the catalogue noting that “the snake will grow to nearly four feet long. Keeping a pet snake is a long‑term responsibility.”
When Michael Kronick won the bid, he publicly condemned the idea of using a snake as a fashion prop. Johnson was subsequently donated to the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo in Owatonna, Minnesota, where he now lives a more appropriate, snake‑friendly life.
8 Justin Timberlake’s Unfinished Toast
In March 2000, NSYNC star Justin Timberlake found himself in a New York radio station’s break‑room, where a half‑eaten piece of French toast caught the eye of a quick‑thinking DJ. Rather than toss the leftover, the DJ listed the unfinished toast on eBay, offering it as a quirky piece of pop‑culture memorabilia.
The quirky auction succeeded beyond expectations: a 19‑year‑old Wisconsin fan named Kathy Summers paid $1,025 for the toast, promising to freeze‑dry and seal it for display on her dresser. When asked why Timberlake left the sandwich unfinished, the star remained tight‑lipped, adding an extra layer of mystery to the already bizarre purchase.
7 Britney Spears’s Pregnancy Test
In 2005, a pregnancy test allegedly used by Britney Spears fetched $5,001 at an auction. The radio station that organized the sale claimed the kit had been retrieved from the hotel room where Spears was staying with husband Kevin Federline, though independent verification remains elusive.
The winning buyer, the online casino GoldenPalace.com, announced that proceeds would benefit two charitable causes: the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Easter Seal Society, which supports children with physical disabilities. The sale highlighted how even the most intimate personal items can become fund‑raising gold mines when attached to a celebrity’s name.
6 William Shatner’s Kidney Stone
Captain Kirk’s own kidney stone made headlines in 2006 when William Shatner sold the calcified relic for $25,000. Like Britney’s test, the buyer was the internet casino GoldenPalace.com, which later donated the cash to Habitat for Humanity. Initially, the casino offered $15,000, but Shatner successfully negotiated a $10,000 bump.
The stone joined a bizarre collection of curiosities owned by GoldenPalace.com, ranging from a potato shaped like Pete Townshend to a toasted sandwich allegedly resembling the Virgin Mary. In a playful interview, Shatner mused that the stone might turn into a diamond under extreme heat—a tongue‑in‑cheek comment that added sparkle to an already glittering story.
5 IPhone Broken By Rihanna
During a 2014 Los Angeles Clippers playoff game, pop icon Rihanna unintentionally dropped and cracked the iPhone of Steve Soboroff, then President of the Los Angeles Police Commission. The mishap occurred while she attempted a selfie with the official, leaving the device with a conspicuous crack.
Rihanna quickly issued an apology on Twitter and contributed $25,000 to a police‑family charity. Soboroff decided to auction the shattered phone on eBay, adding a personal autograph that expressed support for the LAPD. The auction quickly escalated, ultimately selling for about $56,000, proving that a celebrity‑smashed smartphone can become a high‑priced collector’s item.
4 John Lennon’s Tooth
In 2011, a single tooth that once belonged to Beatle John Lennon sold for £19,000 (approximately $31,200) at an English auction. The tooth had been kept for decades by the family of Dot Jarlett, a former housekeeper of Lennon’s. Initially, Lennon asked Jarlett to destroy the tooth, but later changed his mind, encouraging her to give it to her daughter, a devoted Beatles fan.
Although the tooth is now too fragile for DNA testing, the Omega Auction House expressed confidence in its authenticity. The auction house had anticipated a $16,000 sale, but the final hammer price nearly doubled that expectation, with a Canadian dentist named Michael Zuk reported as the buyer. The story underscores how even a single tooth can become a priceless relic of music history.
3 Russell Crowe’s Jockstrap
In April 2018, the HBO comedy program Last Week Tonight, hosted by John Oliver, snapped up the jockstrap Russell Crowe wore in the boxing drama Cinderella Man for $7,000. The purchase was part of a larger haul that also included shorts and a robe from the same film, a hood from Robin Hood, and a vest from Les Misérables.
Oliver announced that the entire collection would be shipped to the last remaining Blockbuster store in Alaska, using the quirky acquisition as a tongue‑in‑cheek commentary on the decline of video‑rental chains. The stunt blended celebrity memorabilia with a nostalgic nod to a fading retail format.
2 Elvis Presley’s Hair
In October 2009, a lock of hair believed to belong to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, sold at a Chicago auction for $18,300. The hair was said to date back to 1958, when Presley joined the U.S. Army, and was part of a larger sale of Elvis memorabilia organized by Gary Pepper, the late president of the Tankers Fan Club.
The auction house Leslie Hindman Auctioneers reported that the final price far exceeded their $8,000‑$12,000 estimate. While no DNA testing confirmed the lock’s authenticity, hair expert John Reznikoff validated it through other methods. The identity of the winning bidder remains a mystery, adding intrigue to the already legendary sale.
1 Scarlett Johansson’s Used Tissue
In 2008, a single Kleenex tissue used by Scarlett Johansson during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno fetched about $5,300 on eBay. NBC, the network that aired the show, listed the tissue for auction, with the proceeds earmarked for USA Harvest, a charity that gathers food for those in need.
The bidding started at a modest $0.99 but quickly surged, reaching $4,050 before the final sale. After 83 bids, an anonymous buyer secured the prized tissue, turning a mundane disposable into a charitable windfall and a reminder that fame can turn even the most ordinary objects into coveted collectibles.