White Album $790000: Ringo Starr’s Rare ‘White Album’ Sells for $790000

A legendary drum set used by Ringo Starr in some of his early hits with the Beatles has been sold at auction and the victor, the elusive owner of an National Football League team who hasn’t been caught in view of the public eye in over 50 years, has dropped, according to the auction house, $2.2 million for the right to call the iconic kit his own.

Until recently it was thought Lennon was given the first copy of The White Album, however it was revealed that Starr had his hands on the “0000001” copy of the band’s ninth studio album.

Last month, Julien’s Auctions sold a drum head from a kit Starr played on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 for $2.1million.

The sale of the White Album, “The Bealtes” as the real name, smashed a record set in 2015 by the first recording made by Elvis Presley, which was sold at U.S. $ 300,000.

The three-day sale this week by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles featured items including musical instruments, career memorabilia, antiques, custom-made eclectic furnishings, artworks and personal items belonging to Starr and his wife Barbara Bach from their London estate, and Beverly Hills and Monaco residences. It had been estimated to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, while the drum kit’s expected sale price was between $300,000 and $500,000. “Finally, after 45 years, the Beatles are together again”, Irsay wrote in a text message to The Associated Press, Fox Sports reports.

Starr is donating part of the proceeds from the auction to a charity he founded. According to its website, “the objectives of the Lotus Foundation are to fund, support, participate in and promote charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas including, but not limited to substance abuse, cerebral palsy, brain tumours, cancer, battered women and their children, homelessness, animals in need”.