Ellen Barkin's Jewelry Nets $20.3 Million at Auction
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Ellen Barkin's jewelry, more than 100 pieces that included her wedding ring from her marriage to Revlon billionaire Ron Perelman, has fetched $20.3 million at auction.
A hush came over the packed Christie's sales room Tuesday evening when the auctioneer announced the sale of the ring, a wide band set with four rows of bell-cut diamonds topped in 18-carat gold.
It sold for $130,000, surpassing a presale estimate of $50,000. The auction house did not disclose the buyer's name.
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Among the other 103 lots, ranging from period jewels and gemstones, a 22.76-carat diamond ring was purchased by a private American collector for $1.8 million — the highest price of the night.
Christie's said the film star was "thrilled" with the outcome of the sale.
The $20.3 million total "makes Ellen Barkin's collection the highest single-owner jewelry sale of the past 15 years in the U.S. and also places it among the top four ever worldwide," said Rahul Kadakia, head of Christie's jewelry department.
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All prices include the auction house's commission.
Barkin and Perelman married in 2000 and divorced six years later. The billionaire chairman of Revlon Inc. has a net worth of more than $6 billion.
Barkin is currently filming "Ocean's Thirteen" with George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Her other film credits include "The Big Easy" with Dennis Quaid and "Sea of Love" with Al Pacino.