Jim Irsay Collection Smashes Music Memorabilia Auction Records
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
James Irsay was an American billionaire businessman who amassed an extraordinary collection of music memorabilia until his death in 2025. It all went under the hammer at Christie's earlier this month, smashing numerous records.
The last of Christie’s four auctions of the Jim Irsay Collection has closed, setting 28 new world record prices, most notably the largest memorabilia auction in history ($94.5 million), the first two guitars to sell for more than $10 million, the world’s most expensive trumpet, the world’s most expensive saxophone, the world’s most expensive drum kit, the world's most expensive music concert poster and a near miss on the world’s most expensive piano.
In total, the sale included nine of the top 21 guitars ever sold at auction. Irsay, a keen guitarist, would have loved that.
The biggest news was the return of Dave Gilmour’s 'Black Strat' to the top of the heavyweight guitar price rankings, with a price of $14,550,000. It was used by Gilmour on numerous albums, including The Dark Side of the Moon, and was featured by OGN last week. Irsay purchased the Fender Stratocaster in 2019 for what was then a world-record $3,975,000. Since then, the prices of elite collectible guitars have skyrocketed, as further evidenced by the next best-selling guitar from Irsay's collection: Jerry Garcia's custom-built electric guitar, known as 'Tiger', went for $11,560,000.
All images courtesy of Christie's | Click to enlarge
World’s most expensive trumpet: a custom-made Martin Committee Trumpet that belonged to Miles Davies sold for $1,651,000.
World’s most expensive saxophone: A Yamaha Alto Sax that belonged to John Coltrane sold for $431,800.
World’s most expensive drum kit: Ringo Starr's first Ludwig drum kit from 1963 achieved $2,393,000.
World's most expensive music concert poster: Buddy Holiday poster for 3 February 1969, known as 'The Day The Music Died' sold for $457,200.
World’s second most expensive piano: John Lennon's Broadway upright which he used for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album in 1967, sold for $3,247,000.
