When Michael Jackson moonwalked into history during the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special in 1983, his performance of “Billie Jean” didn’t just shake the music world—it defined a generation. But it wasn’t just the moonwalk that captured global attention—it was the look.

The black sequin jacket, high-water pants, rhinestone socks, penny loafers, tilted fedora, and, of course, the legendary white glove. This was the moment Jackson’s stage persona transformed into pop culture myth.

What many don’t know is that the ensemble was thrown together at the last minute. The shirt—a rhinestone-studded piece from Beverly Hills designer Bill Whitten—had been worn previously in performances with Diana Ross. The black sequin jacket? Borrowed straight from his mother Katherine’s closet.

Jackson recalled in his autobiography Moonwalk that when he found the jacket during the Thriller sessions, he knew he’d eventually perform in it. And he did, gifting the piece afterward to his idol Sammy Davis Jr. Its whereabouts today remain a mystery.

The shoes, a pair of well-worn Florsheim loafers Jackson dubbed his “magic shoes,” were critical to his performance. These are the very shoes he first moonwalked in, later gifting them to choreographer Lester Wilson. In 2018, they fetched over $50,000 at auction, with the worn soles and markings like “Michael #2” only adding to their historical significance.

His black wool fedora, a last-minute request Jackson described as “a spy’s hat,” was also auctioned off in 2011, going for over $15,000. The understated accessory became another fixture in Jackson’s fashion legacy, reappearing in “Smooth Criminal,” “Dangerous,” and countless tours.

Yet no item from that fateful night carries the mystique and cultural power of the glove. Jackson had worn single gloves before, even on previous tours and album covers, but Motown 25 immortalized it. The glove was fashioned hastily from a white leather golf glove, adorned with mesh rhinestones—strategically absent from the palm to grip the microphone better.

Jackson gifted it after the show to Walter “Clyde” Orange of the Commodores, continuing their years-long friendship. In 2009, just months after Jackson’s sudden passing, the glove went to auction, eventually selling for an astronomical $430,000 to Hong Kong businessman Hoffman Ma.

As the legacy of Jackson’s wardrobe endures, other pieces from the Motown 25 performance continue to circulate among collectors—though not without controversy. The dazzling socks he wore that night were estimated to fetch up to $2 million, allegedly gifted to his manager Frank DiLeo.

However, Jackson’s estate publicly challenged the authenticity, stating DiLeo wasn’t even his manager at the time of the performance. The sale was quietly withdrawn, and the socks remain unsold.

In total, the pieces of Jackson’s Motown 25 outfit have collectively sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The glove alone, once a spontaneous wardrobe choice, has become a pop culture relic akin to Dorothy’s ruby slippers.

More than four decades later, fans and collectors alike continue the quest to trace and treasure these remnants of one of the most iconic moments in music history. From museums to private vaults, Jackson’s “Billie Jean” attire remains the Holy Grail of pop memorabilia—a glittering time capsule of a night that changed everything.