In case the rich weren’t terrible enough this year, a throng of them gathered to bid astronomical sums on a handbag, which could have *checks notes* gone to literally anything else that would improve the wealth gap or provide for the basic needs of others. The formerly stickered and scuffed bag was sold by Sotheby’s this week for $10.1 million (\u20ac8.6 million, CAD$13.8 million, \u00a37.48 million, or R$56.17 million).<\/p>\n
Legend goes, Jane Birkin was seated next to the artistic director of Herm\u00e8s, John-Louis Dumas, on a flight to Paris in 1981, when Jane’s belongings scattered out of her favored bag \u2014 a wicker basket. She mentioned her frustration that she couldn’t find a purse large enough to carry all of her baby things. The baby? Charlotte Gainsbourg. Dumas quickly sketched a design, “with a dedicated space for her baby’s bottles!” per Herm\u00e8s. A prototype of the bag was made, and given to Birkin for free. In 1985, Herm\u00e8s asked Birkin to name the silhouette after her.<\/p>\n
Jane had been gifted other bags by Herm\u00e8s, but loved her OG, taking it with her nearly everywhere, decorating it with political stickers, beads, and ribbons, and absolutely stuffing it to filth. In her view, bags are meant to be practical.<\/p>\n
The Birkin bag is actually, more or less, a diaper bag. More on the origin story: \ud83d\udc5c The first-ever #Birkin<\/a> handbag sold for \u20ac8.58 million at a \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 #Sothebys<\/a> auction in #Paris<\/a> on Thursday, smashing all previous handbag price records.<\/p>\n Designed by Hermes for Jane Birkin, it was bought by a private collector in \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 #Japan<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/o2wjT2MLag<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) July 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Who bought it? <\/b> Who was the losing bidder whose corpse we should also feast on?<\/b> Allegedly, Lauren S\u00e1nchez was the losing bidder on Jane Birkin\u2019s original Herm\u00e8s Birkin bag, which sold for $10.1 million at auction yesterday, per the Robb Report. pic.twitter.com\/zDCX9lszSJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Louis Pisano (@LouisPisano) July 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Here’s a video of the seller post-sale:<\/b> This is how you talk after you\u2019ve just sold your Birkin handbag\u2014the first ever made\u2014at auction for 7 million Euros\u2026<\/p>\n Sold yesterday in Paris.<\/p>\n Winning bidder from Japan, not named. <\/p>\n Paid \u20ac8.6 million including fees.<\/p>\n One guy came with \u20ac2.2m budget and was so pained. pic.twitter.com\/mrQw1TsrRA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) July 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n The sale broke multiple records. In terms of fashion items sold, this bag comes in second under Judy Garland’s Ruby Red Slippers from 1939’s The Wizard Oz \u2014 which sold on Dec. 7, 2024 in Dallas for an incredible $32.5 million. Jane Birkin’s prototype is the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction, a title previously held by Herm\u00e8s’ White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28, sold at $513,040 in 2021, meaning we are not eating the rich fast enough.<\/p>\n Sources Tolu Ogunlesi Twitter<\/a> | Sotheby’s Twitter<\/a> | Robb Report<\/a> | France24<\/a> | People<\/a> <\/p>\n ONTD, what’s your philosophy on purses? Do you make investments in high-quality or trash cans?<\/i><\/p>\n What’s your everyday bag?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n European Carry-All<\/p>\n 2<\/b>(<\/span>1.2<\/span>%<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/ic.pics.livejournal.com\/primimproper\/8565151\/132029\/132029_original.png\" "\\"Screenshot")
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Allegedly, the Anonymous buyer is a private collector in Japan. <\/p>\n
It’s rumored the losing bidder was Lauren fucking S\u00e1nchez Bezos.
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