Toronto rapper Drake has bought Tupac Shakur's crown ring, which the rap icon wore during his final public appearance, at auction for over $1 million.
Drake paid $1,016,000 for the gold, ruby, and diamond crown ring at a Sotheby's auction, according to a press release. The late Shakur designed the ring himself and wore it to the MTV Video Music Awards in early September 1996.
Shakur's ring was expected to sell for at least $200,000. The auction was the third in a Sotheby's series dedicated to articles from the world of hip-hop, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the genre.
Drake shared an Instagram Story wearing the ring while promoting his feature on the latest Travis Scott album, Utopia.
"This one-of-a-kind, custom ring was meticulously designed by Tupac and is among the final products of his boundless creative energy-a unique artifact from a period of time that is a testament to his enduring influence on both Hip Hop and global contemporary culture. We're thrilled that this exceptional piece has entered a new chapter in the hands of another legendary artist," Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's Global Head of Science & Popular Culture, shared in a statement.
The ring was originally crafted with New York jewelers soon after Shakur was released from prison and inked his deal with Death Row Records.
(Photo: Sotheby's)
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