Auction price for crypt above Marilyn Monroe's reaches $4 million

This piece of real estate in Westwood might not be suffering from the economic downturn.

The crypt above Marilyn Monroe's resting place was placed for sale on EBay for a $500,000 starting price, but the bidding is now up to more than $4 million. Bidding ends today, and 28 people have vied for the crypt. 

Of course with EBay, it's never totally clear whether the bidders are serious about buying. Still, the sale has caught national interest. "Here is a once in a lifetime and into eternity opportunity to spend your eternal days directly above Marilyn Monroe," the auction description says.

The crypt belonged to Richard Poncher. The onetime Beverly Hills resident, who died 23 years ago at the age of 81, will be moving out of the crypt above Monroe's resting spot at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery. 

His wife, Elsie, is hoping that he has just a little more to give. She wants to use the money to help pay off the $1.6-million mortgage on her 1 3/4-acre Beverly Hills home.

"I can't be more honest than that," she told The Times. "I want to leave it free and clear for my kids."

With $500,000 bidding start price, the crypt is -- on a per-square-foot basis -- one of the most expensive pieces of real estate on the market.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[aaron]

You go grandma, its the right thing to do.

[dana]

Smartest woman ever!!!

[Lynn]

How is this legal? That man purchased the cyrpt for himself. I don't think that he planned to be moved.

[Brian]

Yeah, auction will end in a couple days and just like most high profile auctions it will be found that some nobody bought it and can't pay the $4million dollar winning bid.

Why do papers continue to get sucked into reporting this drivle. Virtually all of these auctions have to be reposted with stricter bidding restrictions and eventually sell for a fraction of the original auction due to spurious bidding?

[lagirl]

What recession? People will pay anything to be dead next to a dead woman who was nothing more than pretty. I can think of more than a few living just in our state alone who would benefit from such a donation.

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Clearly, a nutjob CAN, 'take it with him' UNTIL that 7.9 comes along!

[qaaza1]

Wow, this is really treason by the wife. Just when a dead guy thinks he's "at rest" (and above another really hot skeleton), your 'ex' moves your remains and sells off your 'dead bed' to some dude on ebay.

What kind of a person moves their dead spouse to Compton for money? Sounds like a new website: "Bones4Cash.com"

That's just cold.

[Al of OC]

How is this legal? That man purchased the cyrpt for himself. I don't think that he planned to be moved.

Posted by: Lynn | August 24, 2009 at 10:14 AM

He's dead...I don't think he'll care. I know what next argument is...I am sure he would want his wife, who is still LIVING, to have no worries over such trivial matters as a mortgage payment on 1 3/4 acres of property in Beverly Hills. Besides it's for the CHILDREN and Grand Kids!

[TK]

Maybe she didn't want him lying next to that blond hussy for eternity.

[Karen]

He bought the 2 crypts for him and his wife, so they are in both names, and she has the right to move him anywhere she wants to. since they own the cryp next to the one he is in, she will have hm moved there, and can sell the one. When she die she plans on being cremated and placed into the same crypt as he is, there is room. It is all very legal, people do it all the time

[Bill T]

It is legal because dead people don't own real estate. The heirs receive the body and crypt in trust, and they can dispose of them as they please, consistent with whatever is in the will, title, and other agreements. In short, you can't take it with you.

She's a smart cookie. Plus she's getting her husband away from "that woman". :-)

[Richard]

I don't think that man cares. Besides, he would want to look out for his grandkids.

Or it could be that Gma is still jealous of her late-hubbies relationship with Marilyn Monroe.

Either way, Gma is making a good move.

[highdesertlady]

CA is community property, dead or alive.

[Tara]

I wonder if any of the Kennedys or Lawfords will be bidding on this?

[TheQueenpawn]

I don't think that he planned to be moved. Lynn. I had to tweet your comment. Made me chuckle.

[BeautyQueen]

Response to Lynn's post: "How is this legal?"

How is it legal? My knee-jerk reaction is, "Why does everyone take everything straight to legalities? What, are ya gonna sue? Do you think someone else should sue? Is this your father? Get over it!"

First, unless otherwise designated, the wife has the right to say where her husband's remains go, whenever she wants to exercise that right, whether it's for the original placement or for movement thereafter.

Also, original reports said that he was no particular fan of Ms. Monroe's one way or another, so it's not as if she is going against any deeply held desire or dying wish he might have had to be buried next to her. He happened to be offered the space and bought it, simple as that. His eternity will not be made or broken by whether its spent next to Marilyn Monroe or Anonymous.

How it's legal shouldn't be the question. At best, the question should have been, "Is this right?" In this case, I think it's both. I don't believe a loving husband would have wanted his wife struggling to pay property taxes, or to lose her home, when a simple movement of his ashes will likely secure her future for the rest of her life. According to the original article, the man was a wheeler-dealer himself. I think he would have loved being part of one last score! And honestly, it's not as if she's removing him from the space and throwing his remains in the garbage.

...At least that has not been in any reports thus far!

Give her a break already.

[Reason]

The original posting of this article, states that the widow currently owns original Picasso's and a Chagall, and during her husband's life owned a dozen Rolls-Royces, a condo in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, and a ruby and diamond-encrusted pendant from a relative of King Farouk of Egypt, to name a few things. Any of these assets could have been used to pay off a mere $1.6M mortgage in Beverly Hills, prior to desecrating your husband's remains (i.e. the same man, according to the article, that generated the wealth to obtain such luxuries for his family). Be weary of the woman you marry.

[Richard]

@Lynn:

He's dead. What does he care?

[shing]

People have fallen into hard times, and with the debit that she owes on her estate. i think this is a good move on her part, but a little disrespectful towards her dead husband.

[Lala]

Gotta do whatcha gotta do!!!!!!

[Lisa]

@ Reason

My thoughts exactly! The only reason she's doing this is to get her 15 minutes! It's beyond pathetic, it's downright sickening! I hope she dosen't get a cent!

[Jack D. Ripper]

Try "Forrest Lawn" people are just Dying to get in............

[qaaza1]

She said, "I wonder if any of the Kennedys or Lawfords will be bidding on this?

Posted by: Tara | August 24, 2009 at 11:55 AM"

Whoa Tara, you crack me up!

[liz]

I sure hope your loved ones honor your wishes after you pass away. And he did want to be above Marilyn, in fact he is facing down on top of her.

[David Wayne]

Will this be the resting place for Michael Jackson? Is this why the family has postphoned his burial from his birthday to next month assuring they have access to this burial site?