Kashmira Bulsara Buys Freddie Mercury Items Back

Freddie Mercury's sister, Kashmira Bulsara, secretly spent around £3 million (approximately €3.5 million) to buy back her late brother's possessions at a 2023 Sotheby’s auction organized by his former partner, Mary Austin. The auction featured 1,400 of Mercury’s personal items and raised a total of £40 million. Bulsara bid anonymously through her personal assistant and son to prevent Austin from knowing she was involved, purchasing significant memorabilia such as a Wurlitzer jukebox (£406,400), a cat-themed waistcoat (£139,700), a military-style jacket from Mercury's 39th birthday (£457,200), and draft lyrics for 'Killer Queen' (£279,400). She was reportedly distressed by the idea of Mercury’s sentimental belongings going to strangers and was determined to keep them in the family, even paying above estimated values. Mary Austin, who inherited much of Mercury’s estate after his death in 1991, donated part of the auction proceeds to AIDS charities. The episode underscores the emotional and financial complexities surrounding Mercury’s legacy.