Michael Jackson's Iconic Glove and Thriller Jacket Head to Abu Dhabi Auction

If you happen to have a few hundred thousand dollars lying around and no idea what to do with them, an unusual opportunity awaits this December: purchasing one of the most famous gloves in music history. And if your budget is a bit more generous, you can also try to get your hands on the red jacket that turned Michael Jackson into a global fashion icon.

Several of the items most closely associated with the King of Pop are heading to auction in Abu Dhabi as part of a Julien's Auctions event. At the center of the sale is the white crystal-embellished glove worn by Jackson in 1983 during his performance of "Billie Jean" on the Motown 25 television special—the evening he introduced the Moonwalk to a television audience and turned a few backward steps into a historic moment.

The Story Behind the Iconic Glove

Behind the glittering item lies a rather amusing detail: it is fundamentally a left-handed leather golf glove manufactured in South Korea. Rhinestone strips were sewn onto it by hand, and the seemingly simple result transformed into one of Jackson's greatest trademarks.

However, anyone wishing to add it to their home wardrobe will need to arrive with a heavy wallet. The glove was previously sold in 2009 for about $430,000, and auction house experts now estimate it could fetch between $600,000 and $800,000. The final price, of course, will only be determined when collectors start fighting over it.

The Thriller Jacket and More

And that might not even be the item that steals the show. The red and black leather jacket worn by Jackson in the "Thriller" music video is also up for sale. The jacket previously sold in 2011 for $1.8 million, but Martin Nolan, a senior executive at Julien's Auctions, believes this time it could cross an entirely different threshold—surpassing $10 million. According to him, this might even prove to be a conservative estimate.

For those for whom the glove and jacket are a bit too pricey, there are relative "bargains": the black Florsheim shoes tied to the Motown 25 performance are estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, while shoes from the "Thriller" video shoot are valued at $30,000 to $50,000. In other words, even the relatively cheap entry into the King of Pop's wardrobe costs as much as a respectable new car.

The main auction of Jackson's memorabilia is scheduled for December 7 at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, as part of the Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience event running through December 9. Before the gavel drops and collectors open their wallets, the items are expected to be exhibited at several stops worldwide.