Tommy Lee Sells the Safe ‘That Ruined My Life’

A safe once tied to one of Hollywood’s most infamous scandals has just been sold to a new owner. The metal lockbox that originally held the notorious Tommy Lee–Pamela Anderson honeymoon tape was auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions for $2,560—far less than the $5,000 to $7,000 it had been expected to fetch, according to the Independent.

Tommy Lee had scribbled a message on the safe that has long been quoted as saying, “This is the safe that ruined my life!” But a photo of the inscription shows he actually called it “unsafe,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to its turbulent history.

Back in 1995, shortly after Lee and Anderson’s honeymoon, disgruntled electrician Rand Gauthier stole the safe from their Malibu home. According to the auction house, it had been filled with valuables, including luxury watches, diamond jewelry, and Anderson’s white wedding bikini. Gauthier—who had worked in the adult film industry—claimed Lee owed him $20,000 and ultimately used his industry contacts to distribute the stolen recording online. The tape became the first celebrity sex tape to explode across the early internet.

Lee and Anderson later sued one of the companies distributing the footage, but the legal battle ended without compensation after the company went bankrupt. Julien’s Auctions says proceeds from the safe’s sale will support a variety of charities, as reported by NME.