Nîmes, France: A single glitter-encrusted sock once worn by pop icon Michael Jackson during a 1997 concert in southern France has sold for €7,688 (approx. £6,540) at auction, far exceeding its original estimate.

The off-white sock, adorned with rhinestones and now stained with age, was worn by Jackson during his HIStory World Tour performance in Nîmes in July 1997. It was later found discarded near his dressing room by a concert technician, according to auctioneer Aurore Illy.

"This is truly an exceptional item -- even a cult object for Michael Jackson fans," Illy told AFP. The sock had been expected to fetch between €3,000 and €4,000.

Jackson famously wore white athletic socks embellished with rhinestones during performances of his hit song Billie Jean, and they can be seen in footage from that era.

The auction, held in Nîmes, drew interest from collectors and fans alike, highlighting the enduring fascination with Jackson memorabilia. Items linked to the late singer have fetched high prices in the past: in 2009, a Macau gaming resort paid $350,000 for the glove Jackson wore during his first televised moonwalk in 1983. In 2023, a fedora he wore just before that legendary performance sold for over $80,000 in Paris.

Michael Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50 following a fatal drug overdose. Despite persistent controversy surrounding allegations of child sexual abuse -- which he and his estate consistently denied -- Jackson remains one of the most influential and best-selling artists in music history, with a devoted global fan base.