Lauren Sánchez Was the Losing Bidder for the Record-Breaking $10.1 Million Birkin
The original Birkin bag, owned and inspired by the late actress Jane Birkin, sold at a Sotheby's auction in Paris today for $10.1 million with fees (8.5 million euros). The bidding opened at $1 million, and a 10-minute battle ensued between nine people before a private collector in Japan made the winning offer. A source with knowledge of the sale told Robb Report on background that Lauren Sánchez was the person just outbid in the end. Sotheby's did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether Jeff Bezos's new wife was involved in the auction.
More from Robb Report
Rimac's All-Electric Nevera R Just Set a New 249 MPH World Record
You Can Land Your Airplanes and Helicopters at This 1,000-Acre Colorado Ranch
The Last Ferrari Daytona SP3 Could Fetch $3.5 Million at Auction
The sale broke numerous records, including the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction (set in 2021 by a $513,040 Hermès Kelly), the most valuable fashion item sold at auction in Europe, and the costliest luxury item ever sold at Sotheby's Paris.
The scuffed and well-worn bag, a prototype created for Birkin, is the only one of its kind with a non-removable shoulder strap and attached nail clipper, illustrative of the bohemian effortlessness that garnered Birkin her fame.
It is also embossed with her initials, 'J.B.,' and was presented in the exact condition in which it was last used by Birkin herself. Faint adhesive marks even linger on the leather—residue from the stickers she would put on the bag in support of causes like Médecins du Monde and Unicef.
The British-born actress and singer, who died in 2023, conceived of the Birkin's design at a chance meeting with Jean-Louis Dumas, then-chairman of Hermès, in 1984 on a flight from Paris to London. Birkin was traveling with her young daughter and complained to Dumas that she couldn't find a handbag big enough for her daily life.
Birkin drew up her ideal design on an airplane paper bag, envisioning an expansion of the Hermès Kelly with an open top, additional pockets, and larger size to fit the hectic quotidian affairs of a young mother. Dumas resolved to create it for the actress, offering her the original bag a year later and asking permission to call it by her name.
Neither could anticipate that Birkin's offhanded sketch would eventually become one of the most recognized luxury items in the world.
Hermès gave Birkin four iterations of the eponymous bag over the course of her life and offered her royalties from the name, which she reportedly donated to charities each year.
The original bag first left Birkin's hands in 1994, when she herself sold it to benefit AIDS research. In the years following, the Birkin appeared in exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It's previous owner purchased the iconic bag at an auction in 2000, identified by Sotheby's only as Catherine B.
'It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend,' Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, said of the sale in a press release. 'The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon, the Birkin bag, the most coveted handbag in the world.'
Best of Robb Report
The 25 Greatest Independent Watchmakers in the World
The 10 Most Expensive Watches Sold at Auction in the 21st Century (So Far)
11 Stunning Jewelry Moments From the 2020 Oscars
Click here to read the full article.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business of Fashion
2 hours ago
- Business of Fashion
Louis Vuitton UK Says Hackers Have Stolen Some Customer Data
Louis Vuitton UK said hackers have stolen some customer data as the luxury brand becomes the latest target in a string of cyberattacks against retailers. On July 2, an unauthorised third party accessed the systems of the British unit of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE's flagship brand and took information such as names, contact details and purchase history. No financial data like bank details were accessed, the company said in an email to customers on Friday. 'While we have no evidence that your data has been misused to date, phishing attempts, fraud attempts, or unauthorized use of your information may occur,' the email said. The company has notified relevant authorities, including the Information Commissioner's Office. The breach is the third cyberattack against LVMH in recent months. Louis Vuitton Korea said last week that it's investigating a similar hack which saw some customer information stolen. Christian Dior Couture, LVMH's second-largest fashion label, also reported in May that hackers had accessed some customer data. Cybercriminals, who often target vulnerabilities in outdated computer systems or trick companies into handing over employee passwords, have taken aim at several British retailers in recent months, including supermarkets Marks and Spencer Group Plc and Co-op Group, and luxury department store Harrods. The UK's National Crime Agency said Thursday that it had arrested four people over the disruptive attacks that have cost Marks & Spencer alone £300 million ($405 million). Louis Vuitton said it's investigating the breach and regrets the inconvenience to clients and has taken steps to further strengthen the protection of its systems. By Jennifer Creery Learn more: Explainer: How Retailers Can Fight a New Wave of Cyberattacks A series of breaches at high-profile retailers like Victoria's Secret and Marks & Spencer is putting cybersecurity back in the foreground. BoF examines what leaves fashion businesses vulnerable and how they can protect themselves.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
New 'Superman' Beats 'Man of Steel' Opening Amid MAGA Backlash—With a Catch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Official numbers for opening weekend for James Gunn's Superman movie have come in, marking a strong opening that has topped Zack Snyder's 2013 film Man of Steel as Warner Bros. looks to completely overhaul its comic book movie universe. However, fans of Snyder's film have pointed out that the opening box office numbers require some context. Newsweek reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday afternoon for comment. Why It Matters A lot rides on the success of Gunn's film, which is meant to serve as the first entry in a new DC Comics movie universe. Warner Bros., as the company was known in 2013, tried to launch a new comics cinematic universe to compete with the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, as opening weekend drew closer, several politically charged moments threatened to derail the movie's potential success. Gunn did not shy away from the fact that his movie would tackle politics, telling British newspaper The Times that "Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other for me, it's mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and something we have lost." His comments prompted backlash from high-profile right-wing media personalities and "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) supporters, such as Fox News host Jesse Watters to jokingly say: "You know what it says on his cape? MS-13," and "Superman is fighting for truth, justice, and your preferred pronouns." Kellyanne Conway, the senior counselor to the president during the first Trump administration, also weighed in by saying: "We don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology on to us." Dean Cain, an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump who played Superman in the 1990s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, during an interview with TMZ also criticized Gunn for making Superman "woke," saying: "I think bringing Superman into it... I think that was a mistake by James Gunn to say it's an immigrant thing, and I think it's going to hurt the numbers on the movie. I was excited for the film. I am excited to see what it is...I'm rooting for it to be a success, but I don't like that last political comment." People cross the street near billboards advertising the new "Superman" film in Times Square on July 9 in New York City. People cross the street near billboards advertising the new "Superman" film in Times Square on July 9 in New York City. CraigWhat To Know Man of Steel, the first entry in what is now known as the Synderverse part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), had a strong box office following the lukewarm success of the 2006 film Superman Returns but had very divisive reviews from critics. Fans were more open to the new interpretation, but failure to deliver a cohesive and engaging universe with further entries, which included Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, and Justice League, prompted a major change of course, especially after Warner Bros. merged with Discovery to become Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and new CEO David Zaslav looked to resurrect the company's greatest assets. When Gunn, the writer and director behind the wildly successful and popular Guardians of the Galaxy series for Marvel, crossed the proverbial aisle and made The Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) seized on a major opportunity. Gunn and producer Peter Safran have now charted a new course for the company's superhero movies, starting with the Gods and Monsters phase of films. James Gunn attends the "Superman" Fan Event at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 02, 2025 in London, England. James Gunn attends the "Superman" Fan Event at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 02, 2025 in London, England. Samir Hussein/WireImage So far, Superman, starring David Corenswet in the title role alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, is off to a flying start, raking in $122 million domestically and $217 million for a global cumulative gross, according to Deadline. This narrowly beat out Man of Steel, which opened to around $116 million domestically and just over $200 million globally over four days, making Superman the best-ever opening for a solo Superman film, and the biggest opening for a film featuring Superman after Batman v. Superman, which had a monster $420 million worldwide opening, including $166 million domestically. However, fans of Man of Steel have been quick to point out on social media that adjusted for inflation, Snyder's entry performed better. On the Box Office subreddit, users posted an adjusted inflation total for each Superman movie, and with that calculation, Man of Steel made just shy of $160 million domestically and $295 million globally. An average film sees around 40 percent drop from week one to week two. Superman not only had a strong opening, but very positive critical response, with Rotten Tomatoes posting an 82 percent critics rating and a 95 percent audience rating compared to Man of Steel, which posted a 57 percent critics rating and 71 percent audience rating. What People Are Saying Writer and director James Gunn told The Times: "Yes, it's about politics, but on another level it's about morality. Do you never kill no matter what — which is what Superman believes — or do you have some balance, as Lois believes? It's really about their relationship and the way different opinions on basic moral beliefs can tear two people apart." He later said: "Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have there will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But screw them." "I'm telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now because there is a meanness that has emerged due to cultural figures being mean online." Gunn's brother, actor Sean Gunn who plays Maxwell Lord in the film, said, per Variety: "My reaction to [the backlash] is that it is exactly what the movie is about. We support our people, you know? We love our immigrants. Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don't like that, you're not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way." What Happens Next? Superman has two weeks before Marvel releases its much-promoted Fantastic Four: First Steps, which starts a new phase of the MCU and will tie into the mysterious and course-correcting Avengers: Doomsday, which will see Robert Downey Jr. return to the franchise in a new role as Doctor Doom.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Why 'Superman' star Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor as 'alpha' cult leader
He steals dogs and murders innocents. He's a terrible boyfriend. He's also the worst boss ever. Yet for some reason, people seem to dig the megalomaniacal Lex Luthor in 'Superman.' The billionaire tech bro is the kind of baddie that Nicholas Hoult loves to play. With guys who 'are very mixed up in their ideologies,' he can bring some understanding to their malevolence. 'There's an element of making those characters not likable, but palatable maybe,' says the British actor, who joins the ranks of Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey and Jesse Eisenberg as on-screen Lexes. Hoult originally auditioned for Superman – a role that went to David Corenswet – but thought he might be a better Lex. Director James Gunn agreed: 'I waited for a couple weeks to let the rejection wear off and then I called him.' Then, Gunn surrounded Supes' arch nemesis with a number of colorful characters, including dangerous right-hand woman Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría), aka the Engineer, and Lex's influencer girlfriend Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio). And because it's a cult of personality, Lex's fearsome posse follows him wherever his shenanigans lead: 'He's this generous, loving guy who his employees love when he is feeling good,' Gunn says. 'But when he's feeling bad, we all know this guy.' Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is mean but has some feels in 'Superman' Lex Luthor has been a staple in Superman comics since 1940, and Hoult found inspiration in those stories where he was an 'alpha' male offended by the hero just existing as an alien on Earth. 'Because he puts in so much hard work for what he's developing and himself, it's even more frustrating that Superman is just naturally gifted and lauded and applauded for his abilities,' Hoult says. He also saw Lex as 'a cult-like leader,' who amasses 'a lot of followers. Throughout the film you see him get picked apart and lose that, but he's managed to sculpt this image that people do like.' Gunn adds that Hoult brought a predatory energy to the character: The first time we see him waiting for Superman to show up, 'he is like a tiger in a cage pacing back and forth.' But there's a lot of emotion to Lex as well. In one key moment, a tear streams down his face. 'I never saw him as a psychopath,' Hoult says. 'He's just got this deep, ingrained fear and hatred. Toward the end of the film, you see his plan ruined and him humiliated" as he suffers "all these things that are painful." María Gabriela de Faría's Engineer makes a formidable Man of Steel enemy One of Lex's most lethal weapons is a living one: Transformed by nanotechnology, the Engineer is an unpredictable foe for Superman and other heroes. She can shift into various different forms – like turning her hands into saws – and can hack into any computer system, even one that's Kryptonian. 'How does it feel to connect to the machine?' de Faría says. 'Is it painful? Is it pleasurable? Does it tickle? Every time she turned herself into something, it felt different, which made it really fun for me and also more realistic because I had something to play with my actual body.' Like Lex, the Engineer is determined and willing to go to extremes to get what she wants, and she sees her boss as 'just means to an end,' de Faría says. 'She is deeply hurt by the world and she's deeply afraid of the path the world has taken. She has suffered the consequences for herself and she's willing to change it to make it better. 'Lex reacts and acts from envy and from being power-hungry,' the Venezuelan actress adds. 'Angela does it out of fear, and I don't know if acting out of fear is any better because we can see that they have the same consequences: pretty much destruction and pain and suffering.' As Eve Teschmacher, Sara Sampaio is Metropolis' selfie queen Eve Teschmacher isn't exactly menacing, but she is overly loyal to her man. And Eve has an auspicious screen debut, taking a selfie in the highest levels of LuthorCorp tower while Superman is getting smashed by a powerful enemy. 'She's like the playful part of me that I don't get to show the world very often,' says Sampaio, a Portuguese actress/model (and Victoria's Secret angel). Lex's gal pal "has this childlike wonder about her, where everything is new. She doesn't really understand what's appropriate, like when Superman is being beaten behind her. She's like, 'Oh, this is a great photo!' ' But Eve puts up with a lot. Her beau doesn't have the best history when it comes to girlfriends – most wind up imprisoned in an interdimensional pocket universe – and Lex is often seen throwing pencils at her. Sampaio came up with a backstory for her loyalty (she comes from a small city, for example, but not from wealth), though even Eve has a breaking point. 'Security, money and power can create safety in a way. She sees that Lex can provide a lifestyle for her (and) she won't have to struggle again,' Sampaio says. 'When she realizes that safety actually is not really there, she makes sure she always has a plan B, that she can escape and take care of herself. But I think everyone gets excited about handsome, powerful rich guys sometimes.'
