10 Beloved Items Celebrities Chose for Their Final Resting Place

Ancient Egyptians placed significant items in tombs to assist their loved ones in the afterlife. This tradition continues today, though its purpose has shifted: It now serves as a heartfelt homage to the departed. Discover the personal items 10 celebrities chose to take with them.

Frank Sinatra // A Bottle of Jack Daniels

During his lifetime, Sinatra enjoyed two fingers of Jack Daniels on ice with a touch of water. Following his passing in 1998, his family decided it was only fitting to include a flask for his journey. Legend has it they also placed a roll of dimes beside him, perhaps for making calls from the afterlife.

Tony Curtis // An iPhone and Splenda

Tony Curtis’s family seemed to share the same sentiment as Sinatra’s. Upon the actor’s passing in 2010, he was laid to rest with his iPhone, a Stetson hat, driving gloves, seven Splenda packets, a dose of Percocet, and several other personal items.

Humphrey Bogart // A Golden Whistle

In her first film, To Have and Have Not (1944), Lauren Bacall famously said to Humphrey Bogart, “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and ... blow.” During their legendary romance and marriage, Bogart gifted Bacall a golden whistle charm to commemorate their meeting. After his death in 1957, the charm was buried with his ashes, engraved with the words, “If you want anything, just whistle.”

Roald Dahl // Snooker Cues, HB Pencils, a Power Saw, Chocolates, and Red Wine

When the creator of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory died in 1990, his family ensured he was accompanied by his most cherished belongings. Among these were his treasured HB pencils, the tools he used to craft nearly all of his literary masterpieces.

Leonard Bernstein // Alice in Wonderland

Alongside his baton and the score of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, Leonard Bernstein was laid to rest in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery with a copy of his constant travel companion—Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Ronnie Van Zant // Fishing Rod and Black Hat

Following the fatal plane crash that took the lives of Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant was buried wearing his iconic Texas Hatters hat, accompanied by his cherished fishing pole.

Bela Lugosi // A Dracula Cape

The distinction here is a Dracula cape, not the Dracula cape. Before his death in 1956, Lugosi entrusted his famous cape to his wife, requesting she preserve it for their son. However, the family chose to bury him in a replica of his iconic costume, a lighter version used for public appearances. The original cape, which failed to sell at auction in 2011, was later donated to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures by his son and granddaughter.

Bob Marley // Red Gibson Les Paul Guitar and Marijuana

While there’s some debate about the specific guitar Marley was buried with, this eyewitness account confirms it was a red Les Paul. The same source mentions that Marley’s widow, Rita, placed “a stalk of ganja” beside him before his casket was sealed.

Andy Warhol // Interview Magazines and Estée Lauder Fragrance

Warhol’s burial items weren’t officially approved by his family. As his casket was being lowered, his close friend Paige Powell hurried forward and threw some of Andy’s magazines and a bottle of Estée Lauder’s Beautiful perfume into the grave. While the perfume’s significance remains unclear, Warhol had a habit of wearing fragrances for three months before “archiving” them to associate scents with specific moments in his life.

Elizabeth Taylor // A Final Love Letter from Richard Burton

Despite the widespread attention given to Taylor and Burton’s romance and their letters being featured in biographies, this particular letter remained private. Written just three days before Burton’s death in 1984, Taylor received it upon returning from his funeral. She kept it near her bedside until her passing and was buried with it, as per her wishes.