Brad Pitt's participation in a silent auction at Sean Penn's annual Haiti fundraiser in Los Angeles in January 2018 stirred some excitement. The Hollywood star placed a high-stakes bid of $120,000 to watch an episode of Game of Thrones with Emilia Clarke, but he was ultimately outbid.
The event, held at Milk Studios, was part of a larger charity effort to raise money for J/P HRO and disaster relief organizations. Despite his substantial offer, Pitt's bid was surpassed by another attendee who won the auction with a $160,000 pledge.
The auction began with a starting bid of $20,000, but it quickly escalated as attendees vied for the chance to share screen time with the Game of Thrones stars. Clarke, who was present at the gala, and her co-star Kit Harington, were seated at separate tables, adding an element of surprise to the bidding process.
At one point, the auctioneer jokingly called out, “Is the King of the North here?” in reference to Harington's beloved character, Jon Snow. However, Harington was momentarily absent, taking a break from the event. This allowed Pitt to increase his offer from $80,000 to $120,000 in an attempt to outdo his own bid.
A star-studded event for a good cause
The event was filled with high-profile figures, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lena Dunham, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who was recognized for his climate change advocacy. DiCaprio used his platform during the gala to speak on the importance of combating climate change, particularly criticizing President Donald Trump's proposals to expand offshore drilling.
He quipped, per Variety, “Their denial of so much of the scientific proof and evidence belongs in ‘the Earth is flat’ chapter of human history,” drawing laughter from the audience.
The fundraising efforts for Haiti proved successful, raising over $3 million by the event’s midpoint, with more donations expected throughout the night. DiCaprio, always an active supporter of various causes, later participated in the art auction.
He bid $80,000 on a painting by Josh Smith, but was outbid by Clarke, who secured the artwork for $90,000. Interestingly, there was a second Smith painting available, allowing both DiCaprio and Clarke to walk away with pieces of art, each valued at a significant amount.
A competitive auction for fans of Game of Thrones
While Pitt's bid to watch Game of Thrones with Clarke drew attention, the competition at the auction was fierce, highlighting how deeply fans of the show are willing to invest in unique experiences with their favorite stars.
The silent auction, held during the gala for Haiti, proved to be a fun yet competitive way to raise funds for a good cause, blending the entertainment world with philanthropy in an unexpected way.