Karl Lagerfeld had a "nanny" for his 500 iPods

Rita Deutschbein Managing Editor

January 30, 2025, 4:32 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Karl Lagerfeld was famous not only for his fashion but also for his eccentric preferences. One of them: iPods. The designer collected over 500 of these devices and used them in a very special way. Now, some of them are going under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction house. 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. Besides his work in the fashion world, he had numerous passions–one of which was his impressive iPod collection. More than 40 of the devices are now being auctioned. They are not only witnesses of 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” (like TECHBOOK, 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 music genre stored on it. Some iPods featured terms like “Italia” or “Tango,” suggesting that Lagerfeld organized his collection by themes or moods.

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 Sotheby’s auction includes not only the iPods but also numerous other items from the designer’s personal collection. In total, over 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.