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A coveted crypt next to Marilyn Monroe in Westwood could be yours — for the right price
The grave site of Marilyn Monroe in Westwood, California. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner later purchased the crypt next to Monroe's.
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Mel Bouzad
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Getty Images
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A lot of people dream about living near celebrities, but what about being buried next to a few Hollywood superstars?
A mausoleum crypt just a few spaces away from Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner is going up for auction next month.
About the burial spot
Marilyn Monroe poses in 1954. Following her death in 1962 she was buried in a crypt in L.A.
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International News Photos
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AFP
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Hugh Hefner, photographed here in 1970, was buried in the crypt above Marilyn Monroe after his death in 2017. g
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via Getty Images
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AFP
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The crypt for one is in the Corridor of Memories at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary.
It’s one row above, and four spots to the left, of Monroe’s final resting place. The spot is even closer to Hefner’s, who purchased the crypt directly next to Monroe for $75,000 in 1992.
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Although they had never met in person, Monroe helped make Hefner a household name. The actor was featured on the cover of the first-ever issue of Playboy magazine in December 1953.
In 2009, Hefner told the L.A. Times that many of his friends had been buried in the Westwood cemetery. Plus, the Playboy founder said “spending eternity next to Marilyn is too sweet to pass up.”
About the auction
The burial spot will be auctioned off during a three-day event hosted by Julien’s Auctions.
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It has an estimated value of at least $200,000, but these coveted crypts in the Westwood cemetery have gone for a lot more.
Update
The sale of the crypt closed at $195,000, just under the minimum estimate.
In 2009, a Japanese man bid more than $4.6 million on eBay for the crypt directly above Monroe, according to NPR.
However, that deal fell through, and entrepreneur Richard Poncher is still buried there. Poncher was entombed face down above the blonde bombshell, per his request.
The “ICONS: Playboy, Hugh Hefner, and Marilyn Monroe” auction will run from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, March 30.
More than 1,000 items will be up for sale, including an original “Playboy Bunny” silkscreen by Andy Warhol, some of Hefner’s iconic silk pajamas, and a costume Monroe wore for a 1958 photoshoot in Life magazine.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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