Elton John sells wardrobe on eBay for charity
A legendary rock 'n' roll icon is teaming up with a major online marketplace to clean out his closet and raise money for AIDS.
To mark Pride Month in June, Elton John is partnering with eBay in a charity resale event called “Rocket Man Resale” that will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
“Rocket Man Resale” will feature hundreds of items from John’s closet, including bespoke Gucci jackets, Versace robes, customized Prada loafers, and more affordable items such as historic concert T-shirts and baseball caps. The auction begins Thursday June 27, and 100% of sales will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
To kick off the auction on the eBay app at 1:10pm ET on Thursday, June 27, creative entrepreneur Emma Rogue and singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez will host a livestream shopping event on the eBay Live platform featuring Elton John and David Furnish.
There are multiple ways to browse and buy the collection, including a brick-and-mortar pop-up shop open from 2pm to 6pm ET in New York City on June 27. The 10-day online auction will commence on June 27 at 9am ET on a special page on the eBay website.
All items on auction will be offered at a starting bid of $26.60 – a nod to the Peachtree Road address of Elton’s previous Atlanta home – with a handful of additional items listed at “Buy It Now” fixed prices.
In addition to the Rocket Man Resale auction, eBay shoppers will have the option to support Elton John AIDS Foundation when they checkout on ebay.com through June 30, 2024.
"Elton John’s wardrobe is decades in the making – to own something worn by him is to own a piece of music and fashion history," said Charis Marquez, VP of fashion at eBay. "Having a cultural icon selling his pre-loved fashion on eBay in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation is a real indicator of our ability to offer incredible access to luxury items that you just can't find anywhere else."
"Giving new life to the cherished items from my wardrobe has always been special to me," said Elton John. "For decades I’ve donated my closet’s treasures to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This Pride Month, I'm excited to share my Atlanta treasure trove on eBay, hoping these items will inspire you to express your unique spirit and bring you as much joy as they've brought me. Whether you're after high-end luxury or something more laid-back, there's a perfect find for everyone. Even better, every dollar goes to supporting the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s work to end LGBTQ+ stigma."
Other retail partnerships Elton John has participated in include the Elton John Eyewear brand exclusively released through Walmart and Sam’s Club in 2022.