The only Oscar ever won by Orson Welles was sold at auction in Los Angeles on Tuesday for $861,000.
Welles won the Academy Award in 1941 for Best Original Screenplay for “Citizen Kane.” The film was nominated in eight other categories, including Outstanding Motion Picture and Best Director, but failed to win.
A spokesman for Nate D. Sanders Auctions declined to reveal the identity of the buyer, but said that magician David Copperfield, who owns several props from the film, was outbid. Copperfield said he admires Welles not only for his cinematic successes, but because he, too, was a magician. Welles hosted Copperfield’s first television special.
The Oscar, which Welles shared with Herman J. Mankiewecz and was thought to be lost for decades, went to auction once before in 2007 at Sotheby’s, but failed to sell when bidding didn’t meet the reserve price.
Also sold at yesterday’s auction was Welles’ working script of “Citizen Kane.” An anonymous bidder paid $97,000 for the script.
Welles’ was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 1971 for superlative artisty and versatility in the creation of motion pictures.
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry collection recently sold for a record-breaking $115 million
photo via WENN