Legendary Director Coppola Auctions Prized Watches to Fund Passion Project

In October 2025, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, now 86 years old, is auctioning off several prized possessions in an effort to recoup a portion of the $120 million he invested in his last movie, Megalopolis. The Oscar-winning director opted to fund the passion project with his own wealth rather than partner with a studio, and the film ultimately grossed only $14.3 million worldwide.

To help offset these losses, Coppola has put up seven timepieces from his personal collection with auction house Phillips. This includes a one-of-a-kind watch that Coppola designed in collaboration with renowned watchmaker François-Paul Journe. The F.P. Journe FFC Prototype features a unique human-like hand that extends and retracts to indicate the time.

Journe has expressed his pride in supporting the sale of this watch, stating that the challenge of creating it was "exactly the type of watchmaking project I adore." He further noted that he made only a small number of bespoke versions based on Coppola's design, each selling for roughly $1 million to private clients.

Despite the financial setback of Megalopolis, Coppola has maintained that he "never cared about money" and that his three children "don't need a fortune." The fantasy epic, which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, starred a talented ensemble cast including Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Giancarlo Esposito.