New York, NY – May 2, 2022 – Sixty years after Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy, Kim Kardashian has added to the pop culture significance of Monroe’s iconic dress — becoming the only other person to ever wear the gown.

Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday” dress — now also Kim Kardashian’s 2022 Met Gala look — will be on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood for a limited time beginning Memorial Day weekend. Visitors will be able to get an up-close look at this stunning garment, along with a behind-the-scenes peek at Kim’s Met Gala look and other memorabilia from Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! acquired the dress at a Julien’s Auctions event in 2016 for $4.8 million. With taxes and fees, the dress’ value surpasses $5 million, making it the world’s most expensive dress ever sold at auction. Believe It or Not!, the gown is now valued at over $10 million.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! strongly feels that this dress, with both political and pop culture significance, is the most famous item of clothing from twentieth century culture.

“We are truly proud to be the stewards of such an iconic artifact and are excited to be able to add to its cultural significance with Kim Kardashian, who is sharing the story of Marylin Monroe and her iconic career with an entirely new generation,” said Ripley’s VP of Publishing and Licensing Amanda Joiner.

The multi-million-dollar dress has rarely been separated from its dress form, let alone worn by anyone other than Monroe. Great care was taken to preserve this piece of history. With input from garment conservationists, appraisers, archivists, and insurance, the garment’s condition was top priority. No alterations were made to the dress, and Kim Kardashian even changed into a replica before entering the Gala.

For more information on the history of the dress and its journey to the Met, visit: https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-kim-kardashians-met-gala-look/

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MEDIA CONTACT
Sabrina Sieck
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
(407) 450-1516
sieck@ripleys.com

About Ripley Entertainment
Built on the foundation of a daily newspaper cartoon in 1918 — still in print today — Ripley Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in family entertainment, expanding to include more than 100 attractions in 10 countries around the world. Along with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, Guinness World Records Attractions, Aquariums, WaxWorks, traveling shows, and miniature golf, the world of Ripley’s continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages. Learn more about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

The post Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Assists in Making History with Kim Kardashian at Met Gala appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! unveils the world’s most expensive dress, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 in San Francisco. (Eric Kayne/AP Images for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!)

San Francisco, California, August 3, 2017 – For a limited time, you can see the iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress that Marilyn Monroe wore on May 19, 1962, when she famously sang to President John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday at Madison Square Garden. The dress will be on display for a month-long engagement at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium located at 175 Jefferson St., Fisherman’s Wharf.

On November 17, 2016, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! set a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive dress sold at auction when they acquired the dress from Julien’s Auctions for a staggering $4.8 million.

Add in auction fees, and the dress cost over $5 million, making it the most expensive dress in the world.

“This is the most famous item of clothing in twentieth-century culture,” says Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits & Archives for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!. Meyer has been acquiring items for Ripley’s for over 39 years and placed the winning bid on the dress. “It has the significance of Marilyn, of JFK, and of American politics.”

Along with the dress, other items from Kennedy’s birthday gala will be on display, including an original program of the event, ticket stub, gala poster, and autographed tiles with Monroe’s signature.

Monroe has ties to San Francisco. She married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio on January 14, 1954, at San Francisco’s City Hall.

The dress will be on display for a very limited month-long engagement, starting on Thursday, August 3, and leaving after Labor Day on September 5.

For more information, visit Ripleys.com/SanFrancisco

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B-roll of the Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” event: B-Roll:

Permission to use the footage and images for editorial purposes.
Please credit footage to: “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”
Credit images to (Eric Kayne/AP Images for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!)

MEDIA CONTACT

Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment
pr@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 | Cell: 727-439-0136

About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 11 countries each year.  In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.

The post World’s Most Expensive Dress Comes to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in San Francisco appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.