Bardot's personal effects auction nets €1m, far exceeding estimate
The late French actor's 285 items sold for nearly 20 times their estimate, with proceeds backing her animal welfare foundation—but her widower disputes the sale.
What to know
- Bardot's 285 personal items sold for nearly €1 million in Paris, almost 20 times the €50,000 estimate, with proceeds going to her animal welfare foundation and son.
- Her widower Bernard d'Ormale opposed the auction as disrespectful to her memory, claiming she would not have agreed—but the foundation confirmed board approval in June while he was still president.
- D'Ormale was removed as foundation head days after the auction dispute, which he later said arose from misunderstanding the sale would involve such personal items.
The dispute Whether selling Bardot's intimate personal items honors or undermines her animal welfare legacy and personal memory.
The auction appropriately furthers Bardot's animal welfare mission and honors her legacy of fundraising for the cause.
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“This sale is the logical continuation of the one she herself organised in 1987 with her most precious belongings to create her foundation. Today, her fight continues through this auction.”
Ghyslaine Calmels-Bock · The Guardian ↗
The auction disrespects Bardot's memory and represents a betrayal; her personal belongings should have been preserved as part of her legacy.
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“These are personal items. Why hold this sale? For the animals?”
Bernard d'Ormale · The Guardian ↗
“Her belongings should have been preserved as part of her legacy”
Bernard d'Ormale, Bardot's last husband · The Guardian ↗
Brigitte Bardot Late French actor and animal rights activistBernard d'Ormale Bardot's last husband and former foundation presidentGhyslaine Calmels-Bock Managing director of Brigitte Bardot FoundationAlexandre Millon Auctioneer at Millon auction house
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles
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D'Ormale removed from foundation leadership days after auction dispute
Bernard d'Ormale was removed as head of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, a position he had held since Bardot's death in December 2025, amid the dispute over the auction.
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Bardot Foundation defends auction approval and rejects widower's criticism — The foundation confirmed the auction had been approved by its board in June 2026 when Bernard d'Ormale was still its president, and said the sale continued Bardot's legacy of animal advocacy. D'Ormale later said he had not understood the auction would involve such personal items.
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Auction of Bardot's 285 personal items fetches nearly €1m in Paris
The auction house Millon sold 285 objects from Bardot's homes including dog collars, guitars, self-portraits, and other memorabilia for nearly €1 million, almost 20 times the €50,000 estimate. Notable items included two dog collars that sold for €9,400, a self-portrait for nearly €40,000, and her autobiography typewriter for €4,634.
“Brigitte Bardot has once again proved to be a remarkable alchemist: she transformed about €50,000 in estimates into nearly €1m, including fees.”
— Alexandre Millon -
2 outlets first by Guardian Culture, 2d ago · also Guardian · read ↗
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Bardot's widower criticizes auction as disrespectful — Two days before the auction, Bernard d'Ormale, Bardot's last husband, called the sale a "joke" and argued her belongings should have been preserved as part of her legacy rather than sold.