What’s quicker than a plane and faster than a speeding bullet? The speed at which Whitney Houston’s material possessions have been pushed to the auction block. In fact, just a week after her death, contracts were already signed for Julien’s Auctions to sell off many of the diva’s prized items.
Why the hurry? Well, it was speculated that Whitney had blown through her multimillion dollar estate and was asking friends and family for financial help. These rumors have been both confirmed and denied by various sources, so we can not be sure whether this is true. The other reason for the quick auction is that the highest profit can be made while Whitney Houston is still a “hot topic” in the news. Seem somewhat insensitive? It’s the same thing that occurred with Michael Jackson’s estate (and any other celebrity for that matter) – material possessions are sold off quickly and the production company seeks for an instant, easy profit off of the celebrity’s recent demise.
A few of the items set to go under the hammer in next month’s auction are the black velvet dress worn by Houston in The Bodyguard as well as other clothing and accessories from the film. Darren Julien, owner of Julien’s Auctions, stated “it proves a point that these items, they’re an investment….These items are historic now that she passed. They become a part of history. They should be in museums. She’s lived a life and had a career that nobody else has ever had.”
Houston’s family has ensured the public that the hotel room Houston died in has been meticulously stripped of all materials that could be used as “death memorabilia” – such as sheets, towels, robes…etc. This is to prevent others from selling these various items to make a personal profit.
Whitney Houston’s possessions were sent to auction quickly, but your estate does not have to follow the same path. Contact our attorneys at Morris Hall PLLC to learn more about how we can help you.
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
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