Madoff Auction Brings In Nearly Half A Million
MIAMI (CBS4) – Going once, going twice – gone!
Thousands of buyers attended a Miami Beach auction of items which once belonged to convicted swindler Bernard Madoff on Saturday.
Jiulia Ozyesilpinar, a native of Florence, Italy who now lives on South Beach, paid $31,000 for a Rolex watch once owned by Madoff.
"It means to me a little bit of Jean-Claude Killy, he was married to an actress, unfortunately she died of cancer. It means a little bit of Madoff. I see him as the punisher of greed people," said Ozyesilpinar. "Owning a watch owned by these very famous men maybe gives me a little bit of their power."
Certified public accountant Barry Imber picked up a couple of Madoff's prized bull sculptures to own a piece of history and help Madoff's victims.
"It would help them and whatever little bit I could contribute to minimize their pain and agony, I am willing to do it," said Imber.
Among the more unusual sales were 14 pairs of underwear going for $200 and a photograph of a naked rear end selling for $4,600.
The highest item, a group of paintings, went for $100,000.
The mostly-household goods brought in more than $400,000, which will go toward compensating victims of Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme. Madoff pleaded guilty and is serving a 150-year prison sentence.
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