Monroe dress for Kennedy birthday song sold for $4.8M

LOS ANGELES - Officials say a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe as she famously sang Happy Birthday to President John. F. Kennedy has sold for nearly $5M at a Los Angeles auction.

Julien’s Auctions says that the iconic, form-fitting gown was sold for $4.8M Thursday night to Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

The company says in a news release that the actress wore the Hollywood designer Jean Louis creation — flesh-colored and sparkling with over 2,500 handstitched crystals — on May 19, 1962, for an early 45th birthday celebration for Kennedy at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Monroe’s breathy rendition of the birthday song has been broadcast repeatedly since, adding to the lore surrounding the screen icon.