Russell Crowe sells the lot at auction to mark divorce

CELEBRITIES tend to try to keep their high-profile divorces, with fees and settlements running into the millions, out of the public eye. Not Russell Crowe and his soon-to-be ex-wife Danielle Spencer.

The pair, who separated five years ago, marked the finalisation of their divorce by auctioning off their collection of movie memorabilia, guitars, art, cricket memorabilia, furniture and jewellery at Sotheby’s, in a 227-lot sale called The Art of Divorce that took place yesterday in Sydney.

Many of the items sold for several times their estimate. The breastplate that Crowe wore in his breakout film Gladiator made A$125,000, (£68,000) while a Leandro Bisiach Snr 1890 violin, from Master and Commander which Crowe described as his favourite item, sold for A$135,000 as did the uniform he wore in the film. The jockstrap that he wore in Cinderella Man was won by a phone bidder for A$7,000.

Both former husband and wife were on board with the elaborate clear-out, Crowe told Australia’s Daily Telegraph: “We’ve been separated over five years now. Just as we collaborate on the upbringing of our kids, it’s easy for us to work together on something like this.”

The actor even picked a sentimental date for the auction: April 7, his birthday and his wedding anniversary.