Mystery buyer takes home Bernard Madoff’s diamond ring
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Bernie Madoff's wife's engagement ring has been sold at auction for $550,000 (£344,000) to a mystery buyer.
The anonymous individual, who attended the public bidding for the former financier's possessions, went home with the 10.5-carat jewel that Madoff had presented to his partner when he proposed.
Other items in the Sheraton New York Hotel event's portfolio included a Steinway and Sons grand piano – which exchanged hands for $42,000 – a valuable watch that went for $67,500 and a pair of embroidered velveteen slippers.
Personal belongings that went under the hammer also included items of clothing, shoes, jewellery and soft furnishings.
Disgraced tycoon Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison in June this year after being found guilty of orchestrating a Ponzi scam that swindled wealthy investors out of billions of dollars.
The public auction was held in New York last weekend and was the second open bidding war of the fraudster's personal effects this year.
