Paul Oakenfold’s memorabilia auction draws global bidders, shatters estimates

Julien’s Auctions hosted a high-profile sale in Los Angeles today, spotlighting memorabilia from Paul Oakenfold extensive career. The “Ready, Steady, Bid” event featured over 150 items from the legendary DJ’s personal collection, drawing collectors and fans from around the world.

Bidders from the US, UK, France, Japan, Brazil, and beyond competed for rare pieces, placing bids via phone, online, and in person at Julien’s headquarters. Standout sales included a UK Gold Sales Award for Oakenfold’s 1999 album Essential Millennium, which sold for nearly 12 times its estimated price. A sales award for over three million copies of Madonna’s single “Celebration” reached more than three times its estimate, while a UK Gold Sales Award for Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill went for nearly seven times its expected price. Other highlights included five 12-inch acetates of U2 remixes, including “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “Lemon,” which fetched three times their estimate.

Fine art pieces also saw impressive bids. A gelatin silver print of Sean Connery as James Bond by Terry O’Neill sold for twice its estimate, while a Takashi Murakami lithograph exceeded expectations, bringing in nearly six times its projected value. A copy of The Great Shark Hunt, signed and inscribed to Oakenfold by Hunter S. Thompson, sold for more than seven times its estimate.

Following the auction, Giles Moon, Julien’s Auctions’ resident dance music expert, praised the overwhelming interest in Oakenfold’s memorabilia. He highlighted the global demand for pieces marking the DJ’s influential career, with over 250 registered bidders vying for items that far exceeded expectations.

Additional standout sales included Paul Oakenfold personal stage-used headphones, a custom moto-style leather jacket, and rare Madonna remix acetates. With a career spanning decade, Oakenfold’s legacy continues to captivate dance music fans and collectors worldwide.

Check out the full auction items here.