A fan paid $243K for the black leather jacket that Olivia Newton-John wore in Grease , only to give it back to her as a surprise gift.
Christmas came early this year for Olivia Newton-John, after a fan splurged and bought the exact leather jacket that she wore in “Grease” for $243K to give back to her.
You know the jacket I’m talking about, right?
It’s iconic.
The jacket completed her transformation from “Sandra D” to this:
I got chills . They’re multiplying.
But in all seriousness, this was a lewk . No leather jacket in the world could top this one.
Anyway, last month Olivia held an auction of her showbiz memorabilia to raise money for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research and Wellness Centre, in Australia.
Just earlier this year, she revealed that she has battled cancer three times , and is still not out of the woods. So, this is a cause that she probably holds near and dear.
The 71-year-old was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, after she discovered a lump in her right breast.
After nine months of chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free.
While she was able to live her life for the following 21 years cancer-free, it returned in 2013, spreading to her shoulder.
Unfortunately, it then spread even further into her lower back .
At that point, fans believed that that was Olivia’s second cancer diagnosis, but it was actually her third.
She had decided to keep her real second diagnosis a secret.
“Because of the speculation,” she explained in an interview. “I just decided I wanted to go through it myself. I don’t know, it was just a decision that I’d keep it to myself that time,” She said.
She also didn’t want to fuel the rumors that she was on her deathbed.
“They were telling me I was dying, and I thought, ‘Well, I don’t feel like it. I feel pretty good!'” she recalled. “But, you know, rumors start and then it gets out of control,” she said.
“The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” she said, adding “I’m doing great.”
Despite her ongoing struggle with cancer, she’s always appeared to have a strong and optimistic outlook.
In fact, she doesn’t even like to say that she’s fighting or battling cancer. Instead, she prefers to say she is “thriving” against, or “winning over” cancer .
Ultimately, her showcase was able to raise $2.4 million for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research and Wellness Center.
And the person who donated $243K for her Grease jacket decided to gift it back to her.
“This jacket belongs to you and the collective soul of those who love you, those for whom you are the soundtrack of their lives,” the anonymous buyer said.
“It should not sit in a billionaire’s closet for country club bragging rights.”
“For this reason I humbly and respectfully return it to its rightful owner, which is you.”
Understandably, Olivia was shocked at the buyer’s generosity.
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“Are you serious? That is the sweetest thing,” she said.
“You’re the best, you’re the best! I’m so grateful. This is the most beautiful present, but mainly it’s your heart that I’m grateful for.”
She was even more thrilled when the buyer asked if she would try the jacket on.
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “It was always my dream to do that, so yes!”
‘Tis the season of giving, after all!
That’s true kindness if I’ve ever seen it.
Let us know what you think of Olivia Newton-John’s Grease jacket being returned to her after being bought for $243K!
Later that same week, Olivia and John Travolta dressed up as Danny and Sandy for the first time in 41 years!
Needless to say, it’s been a great week for Grease fans!
The pair hosted a “Grease” sing-a-long event in Florida this past weekend and it was *everything* and more.
Here’s a video of Olivia and John singing Sandy .
I know, right?
“First time in costume since we filmed the movie! So excited!” Olivia wrote on Instagram.
It’s safe to say 41 years later, Grease is still *absolutely* the word.
This is a Christmas miracle out of my wildest dreams.
THANK YOU DANNY AND SANDY!
