Michael Jackson offered $1 million for the bones of the Elephant Man, John Merrick.
Key details:
- The offer was made in 1987 after an initial bid of $500,000, and it was directed at the London Hospital Medical College which housed Merrick’s remains.
- The hospital reportedly declined the offer, stating the skeleton was not for sale.
- Public reporting at the time framed Jackson’s interest as a fascination with Merrick’s life and the ethical/historical significance of the remains, rather than a financial maneuver.
If you’d like, I can pull specific article quotes or summarize additional contemporary coverage from outlets like the Los Angeles Times or Chicago Tribune.