If Howard K. Stern was out for money, he didn't have to commit murder.

The simple act of larceny would have been enough. Especially now that the diary of Anna Nicole Smith has sold for over half a million dollars on eBay.

TMZ has learned that in an online auction, a businessman from Hamburg, Germany just dropped $512,500 on two handwritten diaries, penned by Anna Nicole between 1992 and 1994. That's even more than most guys would pay see to see Kim Kardashia nude on her sex tape.

According to the seller, Thomas Riccio of Universal Rarities, the winner is "a huge fan" of the former Playboy Playmate, but wishes to remain anonymous. The German outbid fans from all over the world, including the United States, England and the Bahamas.

Meanwhile, Anna's daughter, Dannielynn, will soon be finding out her true daddy. And the world will soon be finding out just how Smith died.

The price of that information? The same as someone should pay on eBay for a car with the Olsen Twins: nothing.