Marilyn Monroe's chest x-rays bring big money

Three Marilyn Monroe x-rays fetched a record $45,000 in a sale run by Julien’s Auctions, a figure well above the $800 to $1200 anticipated for each of the films. The chest x-rays are from Monroe’s 1954 visit to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Florida.

“We did not think that they would go over $5000, to be honest with you,” said Darren Julien, president and CEO of the eponymous auction house.

There was interest in the Monroe x-rays from all over the world and approximately 20 different people bid on them, he said. Julien’s Auctions recently sold x-ray images of Elvis Presley’s head, receiving $3500 for one and $4500 for the other.