STORY: :: Jewelry, letters and dresses owned by Marilyn Monroe are heading to auction, offering a rare glimpse into the icon's private world

:: Brian Chanes, Heritage Auctions

 "This material has never been seen before and has never been offered to the public. It's literally been in the confines of the estate of Norman and Hedda Rosten. And so it's really special because it's not material that's been bought and sold over the decades. And this is something that's a discovery, frankly. I mean, you're talking about jewelry that she wore when she blew that famous kiss, that little hoop earrings."

:: Beverly Hills, California / May 8, 2026

"One of my favorite pieces is behind me, and it's a Christian Dior, you know, wool skirt suit that she wore on her honeymoon getaway with Joe DiMaggio. I mean, it's incredibly elegant."

 "I mean, there's a piece that we have when she was filming "Some Like It Hot." It's on Hotel Del Coronado stationery. And she, it was right before she was about to, you know, overdose and they had to halt production. But I mean she was saying, I feel like I'm drowning. I mean you can feel you know the angst in her writing."

"People love and adore Marilyn to this day," said Brian Chanes, senior director of Hollywood and entertainment at Heritage Auctions, during a preview of the collection on Friday (May 8). 

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, Monroe became a renowned actress, model, singer and sex symbol known for her blonde hair and hourglass body. She died in 1962 from an overdose.

Heritage Auctions is opening bidding to the public on items from the estate of poets Norman and Hedda Rosten, close friends and confidants of Monroe. The sale, which happens June 1, coincides with what would have been the star's 100th birthday and features personal belongings dating from 1955 to 1962.

Among the most striking offerings are documents never seen publicly, shedding light on Monroe's inner life. The papers explore her romantic relationships, fears surrounding a lost pregnancy, and her reflections on mortality.

From costume jewelry Monroe wore to artwork she once held in her hands, the collection offers buyers intimate access to her personal world. The auction also includes correspondence from her ex-husband, playwright Arthur Miller, revealing the emotional complexities of their marriage, as well as an unseen letter from Monroe's psychiatrist describing the day leading up to her death.