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Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Guitar Auctioned for Millions
18 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Kurt Cobain's 1969 Fender Mustang guitar to be sold at auction
- Estimated to fetch $2.5 million to $5 million
- Purchased by Jim Irsay for $4.7 million in 2022
In a highly anticipated move, the guitar that Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain used in the iconic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video is set to go up for auction as part of the massive Jim Irsay Collection. The left-handed 1969 Fender Competition Mustang, which Cobain described as his favorite guitar, is expected to fetch a staggering $2.5 million to $5 million, according to Christie's New York, the auction house handling the sale.
Irsay, who passed away in May, purchased the guitar for $4.7 million in 2022, outbidding 26 other interested parties. The guitar was previously owned by the Cobain family, who donated a portion of the sale proceeds to Irsay's non-profit organization, Kicking The Stigma, which aims to raise awareness about mental health issues. Cobain tragically died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 27.
The "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video, which features Cobain performing in a high school gym, has become one of the most iconic and influential music videos of all time, with over 2 billion views on YouTube and ranking as the 76th most listened to song on Spotify.
