R101m for Brangibabes' pics
2008-08-02 10:17
New York - Exclusive pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's newborn twins fetched $14m, a person involved in the negotiations told The Associated Press, giving People magazine and a British tabloid joint rights to publish the most expensive celebrity pictures ever taken.
The person asked not to be named because he was not authorised to release the figure. People will feature Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon in an issue to hit newsstands on Monday, spokesperson Nancy Valentino said Friday.
The money - more than double the $6m People paid for Jennifer Lopez' twins on a March cover, according to Forbes - will go to a foundation created by Pitt and Jolie that largely focuses on helping children around the world.
The celebrity weekly scored the photos in a joint deal with the London-based Hello! magazine, and the two will split the bill. Particulars of the division were not disclosed.
It's the second time People won the North American rights to the couple's first-look baby pictures, and the third time the couple has worked with the two magazines in exchange for a hefty donation to charity.
"We're thrilled to be able to feature these pictures in People," managing editor Larry Hackett said in a statement.
Inevitable bidding war
People plans to unveil the first photo on its website on Sunday evening.
Even before the babies were born July 12 in Nice, France, the speculation began over which celeb mag would come out on top of an inevitable bidding war.
The couple ultimately chose a familiar route in its joint deal between People and London-based Hello! magazine.
Jolie and Pitt sold the US rights to the first shots of their daughter Shiloh, now 2 years old, in exchange for a reported $4m donation. Hello! magazine obtained the British rights.
And last year, the couple sold intimate shots of their son Pax, then 3 years old, to Hello! and People.
Getty Images, which was involved in the deal for pictures of Shiloh and took those photos, was also involved this time around.
In a statement, Getty co-founder and CEO Jonathan Klein said his company was "delighted that all proceeds from these stunning images will once again be donated entirely to charity".
When People published six photos of Pitt, Jolie and baby Shiloh in June 2006, the issue moved 2.2 million copies, its biggest seller at the time going back to its 4 million-selling 9/11 special, Media Week reported.
Jolie, 33, and Pitt, 44, established their foundation that year. They donated $1m in June to The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict to help children affected by the war in Iraq.
Last year, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave more than $300 000 to support the International Rescue Committee's relief programme for Darfur refugees.
- AP