Amy Winehouse’s family has made millions after an auction of the late star’s memorabilia raked in $4million.
Of the funds raised from her final items, 30 percent – or $1.2million – will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, the charity set up by the star’s parents Mitch and Janis after her death in 2011 at the age of just 27, from alcohol poisoning.
Meanwhile, the remaining $2.8million will go to the family trust and auction costs, according to Los Angeles auction house Julien’s and a spokesperson for the charity set up in the late singer’s name.
Julien’s reported that the $4 million brought in through the auction that took place across Saturday and Sunday was twice the amount originally forecast.
When asked about how the funds were being distributed, a spokesperson for the Amy Winehouse Foundation told the MailOnline that the money was for Ms Winehouse’s family and future generations.
‘What’s wrong with Amy’s young relatives benefiting in years to come, she would love that,’ the spokesperson said. ‘Why shouldn’t the family benefit? Who usually benefits from a deceased family member’s belongings? Does every family give all inheritance away to charity?’
In addition to her mother and father, the singer left behind her brother Alex Winehouse and a stepbrother named Michael.
Amy Winehouse’s family (pictured) is set to make millions after an auction of the late star’s memorabilia raked in $4million. Pictured: Ms Winhouse with her mother Janis (second-left), her father Mitch (second right), her brother Alex (left), her aunt Melody Abelson (third left) and Mitch’s second wife Jane (right)
The yellow and black dress worn by Amy Winehouse at her final performance in Belgrade, Serbia a month before she died sold on Sunday for $243,200, 16 times its estimated value. Pictured: The dress on display last week ahead of being sold at auction in Los Angeles
Pictured: Amy Winehouse performs live at Kalemegdan Park on June 18, 2011 in Belgrade, just a month before her death. The singer appeared disorientated and she was booed off the stage
The auction over the weekend is not the first time Amy Winehouse’s family has benefited from her estate.
Because Ms Winehouse did not leave a valid will, she died intestate. Her father was subsequently named as the administrator of her estate, meaning he had to distribute her estate based on a set of rules.
However, due to the singer divorcing her husband Blake Fielder-Civil in 2009, the entirety of her estate worth around £3million ($4million) went to her parents.
In 2012, it was also reported that Ms Winehouse’s father Mitch had put his daughter’s Camden home on the market for £2.7million ($3.7million), having bought it for her in April 2010 for around £1.8 million.
The auction saw the sale of 800 personal items from Amy Winehouse’s estate. One item – the dress worn by the singer at her final performance a month before she died – sold on Sunday for $243,200, 16 times its estimated value.
Another item to go under the hammer was the singer’s heart-shaped Moschino bag that sold for a staggering $204,800 at a charity auction at Julien’s in Los Angeles.
The Grammy Award-winning star, known for her distinctive raspy voice on her soul and jazz hits including Back To Black, Rehab and Love Is A Losing Game, died of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011, aged 27.
Amy Winehouse’s famous heart-shaped, red leather Moschino bag (pictured being carried by the singer in 2017 and right when up for auction in Los Angeles) went for $204,800 – a staggering ten times its upper pre-sale estimate
Pictured: Amy Winehouse’s famous heart-shaped, red leather Moschino bag on display in Los Angeles) went for $204,800 at the auction over the weekend
At her final stage performance in Belgrade, Serbia, in June 2011, just a month before her death, Winehouse donned the figure-hugging green and black halter neck minidress, designed by her stylist Naomi Parry.
Her performance at the Belgrade Tuborg Festival saw the esteemed singer appear disorientated and she was booed off the stage. Her 18-leg European tour was cancelled and she stayed for a week at The Priory clinic.
The soul singer was found dead in her flat in Camden, north London, less than a month later.
Amy’s stylist and friend Parry said: ‘I feel an immense amount of sadness when I look at that dress. It was supposed to be the start of something new and moving forward. She had been doing so well.’
The famous bamboo and floral print dress was estimated to fetch between $14,500 and $19,500, but fetched a surprise $243,200.
Fans had the chance to snap up more than 800 of Amy’s personal items, including designer dresses and lingerie, accessories and handwritten notes.
The soul singer’s wardrobe items sold for many times more than had been predicted at the Julien’s Auctions sale in Beverly Hills and online
Her famous heart-shaped, red leather Moschino bag went for $204,800 – ten times its upper pre-sale estimate.
The bold bag was used by Amy at the 2007 Brit Awards, where she won the British female solo artist award.
A Dolce and Gabbana floral golden lam dress worn by Amy during a stage performance in Blackpool in 2007 was expected to raise up to $6,700.
But the gown, which features a fitted bodice with pleated trim, attracted 29 offers and eventually sold for $150,000.
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Left: Ms Winehouse wearing a black mini dress worn at the South Bank Show Awards at London’s Savoy Hotel in 2007 was expected to earn $5,400 – but went for $83,200. Similarly, a figure-hugging plaid dress (pictured right) worn by Amy to the Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2007 in Dublin had only been tipped to fetch $4,000, but sold for $93,750 after 27 bids
A Dolce and Gabbana floral golden lam dress worn by Amy during a stage performance in Blackpool in 2007 was expected to raise up to $6,700. But the gown, which features a fitted bodice with pleated trim, attracted 29 offers and eventually sold for $150,000
A Temperley London tan and black jumpsuit worn at a concert celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in Hyde Park in 2008 was valued at just $2,000.
But the iconic outfit sparked a bidding frenzy, attracting 37 offers, and eventually sold for $121,600.
Similarly, a figure-hugging plaid dress worn by Amy to the Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2007 in Dublin had only been tipped to fetch $4,000.
But the strapless, silk size zero dress with a pleated satin trim sold for $93,750 after 27 bids.
A black mini dress worn by Amy to the South Bank Show Awards at London’s Savoy Hotel in 2007 was expected to earn $5,400 – but went for $83,200.
Christian Louboutin heels that Amy wore for the Mandela concert were valued at just $800 – but fetched $38,400.
Let: A Temperley London tan and black jumpsuit worn at a concert celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in Hyde Park in 2008, sold for $121,600. Right: A striped size 8 bikini worn by Amy on the beach in Rio de Janeiro in 2011 went for $12,500
Christian Louboutin heels that Amy wore for a concert celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in Hyde Park were valued at just $800 – but fetched $38,400
A turquoise silk Agent Provocateur bra (pictured) worn by Amy in her ‘You Know I’m No Good’ music video was valued at $2,000 – but went for $25,600
And a turquoise silk Agent Provocateur bra worn by Amy in her ‘You Know I’m No Good’ music video was valued at $2,000 – but went for $25,600
Smaller personal items had starting prices as low as $100 but the level of demand from fans of the late music star and style icon sparked fierce bidding and soaring prices.
Two pairs of Amy’s trademark pink satin ballet pumps had an estimate of $600- but went for $19,200.
A striped size 8 bikini worn by Amy on the beach in Rio de Janeiro in 2011 had the same estimate – and went for $12,500.
Amy’s hardwood jewellery box was valued at just $100- but went for 100 times more at $10,000.
Her brown teddy bear, also valued at only $100, went for $6,250, while her set of Jack Daniel’s playing cards fetched $1,024.
And even a collection of her travel tickets – including a London Underground Oyster pass and a used bus ticket – went for $768.
Two pairs of Amy’s trademark pink satin ballet pumps had an estimate of $600 – but were sold at the auction for an amazing $19,200
Ms Winehouse’s brown teddy bear (pictured), valued at only $100, went for $6,250
The singer’s set of Jack Daniel’s playing cards (pictured on display) fetched $1,024
Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, revealed that the auction had attracted the attention of registered bidders from all around the world.
He said: ‘Amy Winehouse is one of the rare and remarkable music icons whose incredible power and soulful expression in every word and note she sang with her distinct voice remains unmatched by any other artist in music history.
‘She is a global icon, a fashion icon, loved all over the world.
‘We celebrate her singular talent and iconoclastic style in this collection of her most personal artefacts and wardrobe worn in her career-defining moments.’
Amy made music history by winning five Grammy Awards in a single night in 2008.
She was found dead aged 27 in her flat in Camden, north London on July 23, 2011. An inquest later found that she died of alcohol poisoning.
The auction of over 800 personal items from her estate raised more than $4 million.
The collection will then be sent to London for Amy: Beyond The Stage exhibition at London’s Design Museum from November 26.
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