A collection of personal items belonging to the late French actress and animal rights activist
The final proceeds reached nearly 20 times the original estimate of €50,000, according to auctioneer Alexandre Millon. The sale attracted significant interest, with approximately 3,000 bidders from France and abroad participating in the process. Among the items sold were two dog collars featuring an identification tag with Bardot’s name, which commanded €9,400, far exceeding their initial €30 valuation. Other notable sales included a self-portrait that reached nearly €40,000, a typewriter used for her autobiography, and several musical instruments and stuffed toys.
Auction Proceeds and Internal Dispute
The funds generated from the sale are designated for the
However, the auction was not without controversy. Bernard d’Ormale, Bardot’s widower, publicly criticized the event shortly before it took place, labeling the sale of such personal items a “joke” and a sign of “disrespect” to her memory. D’Ormale, who was recently removed from his position as the head of the foundation, claimed that the actress would not have consented to the dispersal of her private belongings.
In response to these allegations, the foundation maintained that the auction had received formal approval from its board of directors in June, during the period when d’Ormale served as the organization's president. D’Ormale countered that he had not fully understood the extent of the personal items included in the auction catalog.
Legacy of a Cultural Icon
Brigitte Bardot, who passed away in December 2025 at the age of 91, rose to international prominence in the 1950s following her role in the film And God Created Woman. She remained one of the most photographed figures of her era until she retired from acting in 1973 to focus on animal advocacy. In her later years, Bardot became a polarizing figure due to her political alignment with the far-right in France. She faced five convictions for hate speech, largely related to comments regarding the Muslim community, and was an outspoken supporter of the anti-immigration National Rally party.
Despite the domestic friction surrounding the auction, the foundation’s managing director, Ghyslaine Calmels-Bock, emphasized that the sale was intended to ensure the continuation of the activist's long-standing mission. The event concluded with the foundation reaffirming its commitment to the animal welfare projects that defined the final decades of Bardot's life.
