Karl Lagerfeld had a "nanny" for his 500 iPods

June 30, 2025, 2:50 am | Read time: 3 minutes

Karl Lagerfeld was renowned not only for his fashion but also for his eccentric tastes. One of these was iPods. The designer collected more than 500 of these devices and used them in a unique way. Now, some of them are going up for auction at Sotheby’s. But why did Lagerfeld own so many iPods?

The legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019, was known for his distinctive style and creative ideas. In addition to his work in the fashion world, he nurtured numerous passions—one of which was his impressive iPod collection. More than 40 of these devices are now being auctioned. They are not only witnesses to the digital music culture but also offer insights into Lagerfeld’s unusual way of consuming music.

Unusual Passion for Music

Karl Lagerfeld considered music an essential part of his creative process. But while many people manage playlists on a single device, Lagerfeld had his own method: He used iPods as digital cassettes, each carrying its own musical identity.

As reported by colleagues at “Computer Bild” (which, like TECHBOOK, is part of Axel Springer SE), Lagerfeld employed an “iPod Nanny” to manage his music. This person was responsible for transferring new music to the devices and continuously maintaining the collection, according to author Warren Ellis. Over the years, his collection grew to over 500 iPods. Each of these devices had a handwritten note on the back indicating the stored music genre. Some iPods featured terms like “Italia” or “Tango,” suggesting Lagerfeld organized his collection by themes or moods.

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Lagerfeld Had Many Limited Edition iPod Models

In addition to his love for music, Lagerfeld had a particular fondness for luxurious and exclusive objects. This is evident in his iPod collection, which included numerous limited and custom-designed models. Among the auctioned devices is a particularly extravagant piece: an iPod Classic adorned with hundreds of gemstones.

According to “Macrumors,” there is a microphone in the same style, although it is not functional. This set, reflecting Lagerfeld’s love for striking design, currently has an auction price of around 500 euros. Whether the price will rise during the auction remains to be seen.

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The auction at Sotheby’s includes not only the iPods but also numerous other items from the designer’s personal belongings. More than 200 objects are being offered, including sketches, notebooks, furniture, and personal items that provide deep insights into Lagerfeld’s creative life.

According to Sotheby’s, the iPods are no longer functional as the batteries need to be replaced. They are therefore primarily offered as collectibles and decorative objects. The auction runs until January 31, 2025, and it remains exciting to see what prices the exclusive pieces will ultimately fetch.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.