David Gilmour's iconic "Black Strat" sells for $14.55M, smashing the world record. The Pink Floyd guitar behind legendary solos like "Comfortably Numb.
- March 13, 2026
AceShowbiz - The iconic guitar known as the David Gilmour "Black Strat" fetched an astonishing $14.55 million at Christie's auction in New York, setting a new world record for the most expensive guitar ever sold. This historic sale took place during "The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of Popular Culture" live auction on Thursday.
The Black Strat is renowned for its central role in the creation of some of Pink Floyd’s most legendary albums, including The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). The guitar was prominently used on tracks such as "Money," "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," and for the unforgettable solo on "Comfortably Numb."
Prior to the auction, experts estimated the guitar’s value between $2 million and $4 million, but the final hammer price far exceeded expectations. The sale surpassed the previous record of $6 million, set in 2020 by the 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic guitar played by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana's iconic MTV Unplugged performance.
Another notable guitar sold at the auction was Jerry Garcia’s "Tiger," a custom instrument crafted by luthier Doug Irwin. This guitar, used by Garcia from 1979 to 1989 and during his last Grateful Dead performance at Chicago's Soldier Field in 1995, sold for $10 million, significantly above its $1 to $2 million estimate.
The Jim Irsay Collection auction, running from March 3 to March 17, is celebrated as one of the most comprehensive assemblages of music and pop culture memorabilia. The late Jim Irsay, known as a philanthropist, passionate music lover, and owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, meticulously collected these items over decades. Proceeds from the auction will benefit charitable causes supported by Irsay during his lifetime.
Interestingly, Irsay had originally purchased the "Black Strat" in June 2019 at Christie's for $5.245 million, which at the time set a new record for a guitar. The recent sale now firmly establishes this instrument as the most valuable guitar ever sold at auction, highlighting its legendary status in music history.
This article was updated on March 12, 2026, at 11:42 p.m. ET to reflect the total sale price, including auction fees, as detailed on Christie's official website.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.
