Michael Jackson auction fetches $1.6m

Michael Jackson's mansion belongings have raised almost £1million at auction.

Items from the late superstar's home went under the hammer this weekend, and blew estimated sales figures out of the water.

Collectors bid on around 500 items from the Los Angeles estate Michael rented while he was preparing for his long-awaited comeback tour.

There were two sessions on Saturday at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. The total raised is said to be nearly triple the company's pre-auction estimate.

Among the items that were bought by fans around the world were a kitchen chalkboard on which Michael's children Prince, Paris and Blanket, had written a note saying "I love daddy".

The item sold for $5,000.

A Victorian-style bedroom suite also sold for $25,075, while an 18th-century French fetched $9,375 and a desk raised $4,375.

Although some items at auction had a personal touch from Michael himself, many were just furnishings from the rented property.

"Anything associated with Michael Jackson is highly collectible," auctioneer Darren Julien claimed in the lead-up to the auction.

The headboard from the bed where Michael's body was found in June 2009 was removed from the sale last month.

It came at the request of Michael's family.

The iconic singer died at the age of 50 after being administered a lethal amount of Propofol by his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray.

He was recently convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

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