World Record $35,000 Paid For White Truffle After Bidding Frenzy On 2 Continents

The largest white truffle found in Italy this year, a giant 2.2 pounds, was bought for a world-record $35,000 last Sunday, November 10, 2002 during an international auction. The three-way live white truffle auction took place simultaneously via satellite with breakfast at Valentino Restaurant in Santa Monica, lunch at San Domenico NY in New York, and dinner at Castello Grinzane in Alba, Italy. Guests at each location were able to bid on any of the 30 truffles on auction.

Valentino owner Piero Selvaggio and Barbara Lazaroff (Wolfgang Pucks wife and partner), hosts in Los Angeles, kicked off the auction with guests such as chefs Celestino Drago and Agostino Sciandri (Robert De Niros partner), Motown founder Berry Gordy, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, director Sidney Pollack, and TV commercial director and first-time restaurateur Joe Pytka in attendance. An interesting trend seemed to emerge as teenagers bid on behalf of their parents, including Pytkas 12-year-old daughter, Arielle, who placed the final bid on the largest truffle. The $35,000 bid bested San Domenico NY owner Tony May, who had led the aggressive bidding war for the truffle against Pytka and Gunther IV, the worlds richest canine and heir to a large fortune. Los Angeles bidders won 15 of the 30 truffles, raising $68,000 for UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center, families of victims of the recent earthquake in Molise, and Citymeals-on-Wheels

The New York event was hosted by Tony May, Daniel Boulud and Jean Georges Vongerichten, benefiting Citymeals-on-Wheels and the Molise earthquake victims. Auctioneer Robin Leach (The Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous) led the bidding in New York, energizing a 120-strong crowd, which included Ivana Trump, Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, restaurateur Drew Nieporent, TV Personality Bill Boggs, Roberto Donna, and Gael Greene. $40,100 was raised for the two charities in New York.

This was the second time that the international auction included the U.S., and the first time for Los Angeles. Last year, the auction included New York for the first time to raise money for Windows of Hope, a 9/11 charity dedicated to the families of food service professionals working throughout the World Trade Center.
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Photos from the event are available.