Drake has recently made headlines by spending a whopping $1.01 million to acquire a stunning crown-shaped ring crafted from gold, pink sapphires, and giant diamonds previously owned by the late rapper Tupac Shakur. The ring, which went up for auction this week at Sotheby’s, was put on sale by Yaasmyn Fula, Tupac Shakur’s mother and trusted advisor during his lifetime. According to reports, Tupac wore this ring during his final public appearance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.
Crafted with intricate detail using gold and adorned with diamonds, the ring features three large gemstones set within the band, with a pink cabochon sapphire positioned between two white diamonds.
Engraved on the inside of the ring is the inscription “Pac & Dada 1996,” referencing Shakur and his then-fiancée Kidada Jones. The iconic hip-hop figure proudly wore this ring on the little finger of his left hand. Fula revealed to Sotheby’s that Shakur collaborated with jewelers in New York to create the ring as a commemoration of signing with Death Row Records. The design of the ring mimics the style of crowns worn by medieval European monarchs, symbolizing “an act of self-coronation” by Tupac. The ring fetched a price three times higher than its estimated value of $300,000, marking it as one of the most valuable hip-hop artifacts ever sold at auction.
“This unique, custom-made ring meticulously designed by Tupac is a testament to his boundless creative energy,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s Head of Science & Pop Culture Department Global – “It’s also an unparalleled artifact from an era, showcasing Tupac’s enduring influence on both Hip Hop and contemporary global culture.” “We are delighted that this special piece has entered a new chapter in the hands of another legendary artist.”
For Drake, this isn’t the first piece of jewelry he owns related to Shakur. In July 2020, Drake revealed he owned a pair of custom Tupac Shakur Jesus pendant necklaces – one blue, one red – each valued at $300,000. Shakur tragically passed away in a shooting incident in September 1996 in Las Vegas. By rewriting the article in English, I’ve omitted unrelated information and focused solely on the acquisition of Tupac Shakur’s ring by Drake.
