Actor nets millions from ‘divorce auction’

SYDNEY — Hollywood actor Russell Crowe’s unusual “divorce auction” of personal items and movie memorabilia, including Gladiator props and a leather jockstrap he wore in Cinderella Man, exceeded expectations and raked in millions of dollars for the Australian star.

The Sotheby’s sale of more than 200 items in Sydney, titled “Russell Crowe: The Art of Divorce”, was held late on Saturday on his 54th birthday and brought in A$3.7 million ($2.8 million).

“Not a bad hourly rate for a 5-hour shift,” Crowe tweeted after the auction.

Sotheby’s Australian chief executive officer Gary Singer said the auction was “incredibly successful”, with the most popular items from Crow’s Oscar-winning film Gladiator.

“People just went mad. It was Crowe-mania,” he told television broadcaster Channel Seven on Sunday.

Among the items that were fiercely contested was a fully functioning replica Roman chariot from Gladiator, which was estimated to fetch up to A$10,000 but went for A$65,000.

The breastplate he wore in the film sold for A$125,000 while a wooden training sword went for A$20,000 and a metal one for A$70,000.

The brown leather boxer’s jockstrap from “Cinderella Man” was expected to attract A$500-600 but sold for A$7,000.

But some lots failed to reach reserve, including a 2008 custom motorcycle that was turned in on a bid for A$35,000. It’s painted green and red, the colors of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Australian Rugby League team that Crowe part-owns.

Crowe made a surprise appearance at the auction ahead of bidding for a 1890 violin created by Italian craftsman Leandro Bisiach Snr, which sold for A$135,000.

“It’s been a lot of fun putting it together for you,” he told bidders, adding that the violin, which he used during filming of the 2003 movie Master and Commander, was “very dear to my heart”.

Some of Crowe’s collection of artwork also went under the hammer with The Suitor by Australian painter Charles Blackman going for A$360,000, along with jewelry he had given to his ex-wife actress Danielle Spencer and sports memorabilia.

Singer said Crowe was “an avid collector” and the items had been kept by the celebrity in his Sydney and rural homes.

“You wouldn’t even notice we had been in the house and taken the 227 items that we have on display here,” he said.