Photo: Fairchild Archive
Elizabeth Taylor's legendary jewelry collection sold at auction yesterday for $115 million—more than double the estimated value of the movie star's treasures. And true to her legacy, part of the proceeds from the sale will benefit The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Topping the list of 80 pieces auctioned by Christie's was a necklace featuring the 16th-century "La Peregrina" pearl, which fetched $11.6 million and set the record for the highest amount paid for a pearl. Taylor's 33.19-carat diamond ring (a present from Richard Burton) collected $8.8 million, while her famed tiara (a gift from Mike Todd) sold for $4.2 million. The auction of Taylor's haute couture and art collections continues today. —Phillip B. Crook