The Original Birkin Bag Just Sold—Guess The Price?

Well, it happened. The original Birkin bag—yes, Jane Birkin’s actual, first-ever Hermès Birkin—has officially been sold at a Sotheby’s auction (I’ve previously reported on this here). The price? Jaw-dropping $10.1 million USD with fees (that’s 8.6 million euros!). And honestly? It’s safe to say fashion history was made.

I mean, to put it into perspective: that’s more than some private jets, a New York City penthouse, or even a tiny private island. For a handbag. But not just any handbag.

The Bag That Changed Fashion Forever

In case you missed the backstory, the Birkin was born after British actress and singer Jane Birkin casually told Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight that she could never find the perfect bag. He then sketched something on an airplane sickness bag (true story), and this “something” ended up becoming the bag we all know and love today—the Birkin.

And the one that just sold? That’s the original. The one Jane actually carried. The one she decorated with stickers, filled with her everyday bits and pieces, and basically lived with!

From Charity Auction to Record-Breaking Sale

So, back in 1994, Jane donated this exact bag to a charity auction. A vintage store owner scooped it up in 2000 and held onto it quietly for 25 years. And fast forward to now: the bag has been sold for a staggering €7 million euros ($8.2 million dollars) winning bid, which with fees accounts for roughly 8.6 million euros ($10.1 million dollars), and sets a new world record for any handbag sold at auction.

Of course, this isn’t the first time a Birkin has shattered records at auction. Over the years, rare and exotic Birkins—especially those crafted in Himalayan crocodile leather with diamond-encrusted hardware—have fetched impressive 6 figures. Though those numbers are nowhere near the price the original Birkin has fetched. But it doesn’t really surprise me, actually. I mean, this is the Birkin. The one that started it all, worn and carried by Jane Birkin herself.

So What Happens Next?

Honestly? No one knows. Will the new owner carry the bag? Put it on display? Tuck it away in a vault? Either way, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a handbag. It’s a piece of fashion history. A symbol of how something so simple—an idea scribbled on a plane—can turn into a global icon.

And now, it’s off to its next chapter.

Any guesses on who the new lucky owner is? Let’s chat in the comments!