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April 13, 2009 - Update: This auction was canceled as of Tuesday, April 14. Click here to read about the latest developments.
Next week in Beverly Hills, more than 2,000 items belonging to pop star Michael Jackson will be sold to the highest bidder. Everything, from Jackson's antique cars to a statue of him as a California Raisin, is up for grabs.
The items come from Jackson's 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch, which he vacated after being acquitted of child molestation charges. He later sold the property to an investment company.
Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions, which is running the sale, says he tried to re-create Neverland, room by room, to give the public a never-before-seen glimpse into Jackson's life.
Highlights from the lot include the singer's signature white sparkling glove, elaborate costumes, memorabilia and even the gold-crested gates that once hung at the entrance to the ranch.
Even though Jackson stands to make a lot of money from the auction, he's filed suit to stop the sale. Jackson wants the right to remove some of his most prized possessions, but so far the courts say no.
Julien says the show will go on, and that even the recession won't dissuade bidders. He expects the auction to bring in $12 million.
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