For most fans, admiration for celebrities goes no further than watching their movies, streaming their music, or occasionally buying expensive concert tickets. For 62-year-old technology investor Anthony Jabin, however, devotion means something far more extraordinary: spending eternity alongside his lifelong idol.
In 2024, Jabin took his fascination with legendary Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe to an astonishing new level. At Julien’s Auctions, he spent an incredible $195,000 to purchase a crypt at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles.
The resting place is modest in size, yet its true value lies in its location. It sits just one row above Monroe’s final resting place and four spaces to the left, making it one of the closest available burial sites to one of the world’s most famous actresses.
“I bought the crypt next to Marilyn Monroe because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend eternity with the most iconic actress of all time,” Jabin told The New York Post. “She has always been my favorite blonde.”
His admiration extends far beyond this remarkable purchase. Every year on Monroe’s birthday, he faithfully sends flowers to her memorial as a tribute to the woman whose image has captivated him for decades.
Jabin’s purchase may sound unusual, but it reflects a growing trend among wealthy collectors and devoted admirers. Across the United States, affluent individuals are willing to spend hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of dollars for burial plots located near famous actors, musicians, athletes, and political leaders.
America’s most prestigious cemeteries are increasingly becoming exclusive neighborhoods for the deceased, where proximity to legendary figures carries extraordinary prestige.
One of the most sought-after locations is the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Known not only as the resting place of countless celebrities but also as a cultural landmark, the cemetery regularly hosts outdoor movie screenings,
concerts, guided historical tours, and even yoga classes. Its unique blend of history and entertainment has transformed it into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable destinations.
According to cemetery co-owner Yogi Kanti, many families specifically request burial sites close to celebrities because they feel it creates a lasting connection to Hollywood’s rich cultural heritage. For them, resting beside a beloved star represents more than status. It symbolizes becoming part of a larger story that has inspired generations.
The cemetery’s most prestigious area, known as the Garden of Legends, features some of the most expensive burial spaces in the country. Prices begin at around $200,000 for standard plots and can exceed $6 million for custom-designed private mausoleums built to a family’s exact specifications.
These luxury memorials rival some of California’s finest real estate, except their purpose is permanence rather than residence.
Noel Berman, director of private estates at Hollywood Forever, says prospective buyers frequently ask whether plots are available near rock guitarist Johnny Ramone or singer Neil Sedaka.
Demand is so high that many premium spaces are reserved years before they are ever needed. Berman compares the process to purchasing luxury real estate in New York City, except, as he jokes, “this lease never expires.”
Another cemetery attracting devoted fans is the final resting place of actress Judy Garland, forever remembered for portraying Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. There, the price of cremation niches varies significantly depending on how close they are to Garland herself.
Artist Jeffrey Dicker, now 49 years old, spent more than $50,000 on a glass-front niche roughly the size of a large shoebox, located only a few steps from Garland’s memorial. For Dicker, the purchase is deeply emotional rather than financial.
“Even before I realized I was gay, I watched Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz,” he explained. “That movie was always a magical place where I could escape reality. If you’re going to make a graceful exit from this world, you might as well do it with Judy.”
Today, celebrity-adjacent burial plots have evolved into a fascinating intersection of fandom, history, luxury, and personal identity. While some critics argue that these multimillion-dollar purchases commercialize death, others see them as heartfelt tributes to artists and public figures who profoundly shaped their lives.
Whether motivated by admiration, nostalgia, or the desire to become part of Hollywood’s enduring legacy, buyers continue to compete for the rare opportunity to spend eternity in the company of the world’s most unforgettable icons.
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