Famous talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey managed to raise a good $559,200 in her much advertised auction at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. The auction was executed by Kaminski Auctions and ran from Oct. 30 through November 2. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation College Fund.
The auction description reads:
Offering antiques, contemporary furnishings, and fine art from Ms. Winfrey's residences in Indiana, Hawaii, Chicago, and Santa Barbara, as well as items from the "La Quinta" estate and from various properties of Bob Greene. Proceeds from the sale of all lots belonging to Oprah Winfrey will benefit the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation College Fund. The fund is dedicated to helping graduates of The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa attend colleges and universities around the world.
According to CBS News, Oprah is giving her California home a major facelift, which is why what prompted her to sell off her personal items. The auction saw bidding of everything, right from gold-painted frames to electric bikes.
"It is my idea of a yard sale, and just like everybody, you start accumulating stuff. I've been accumulating things since 1985. It's just too much stuff, and I write about it a lot in the magazine, we talk about de-cluttering and I realize I need to de-clutter my own life," Winfrey said about the auction.
The auction drew a large audience both online and on-spot. The most expensive bid went to a set of six 18th century Louis XVI armchairs with hand-embroidered details that sold for $60,000. Winfrey's portraits were also hot sellers. 'The Color Purple' an autographed banner sold for $6000, reports The Los Angeles Times.
Other stuff like a crystal lamp base, without the shades, sold for $2500, two 13-feet long sofas sold for $8750, a teapot sold for $1000 and one electric bike sold for $5250.
Check out all the lots that were auctioned, here.
But didn't it hurt to let go of some personal things? Apparently, yes it did! One of the hardest things to let go was a 19th century library stairs set.
"I'm trying not to be attached to things. I'm trying to live the life that I talk about, like not letting things define you. But it's hard," she said to CTV News.
Winfrey is a clever property player. She was recently named the second most powerful celebrity by Forbes. Check out her asset portfolio, here.
