Brad Pitt Dropped $120K to Binge Game of Thrones with Emilia Clarke—But Lost to a Mystery Bidder!
In January 2018, Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt sparked quite the buzz at a high-profile charity gala hosted by Sean Penn in Los Angeles. The event, known as the 7th Annual Sean Penn & Friends Haiti Rising Gala (also called the J/P Haitian Relief Organization “Steadying the Storm” fundraiser), took place at Milk Studios and aimed to raise substantial funds for Haiti relief efforts through the J/P HRO and other disaster relief organizations.One of the standout auction items was a unique, fan-dream experience: the chance to watch an episode of the massively popular HBO series Game of Thrones alongside its star, Emilia Clarke (who played the iconic Daenerys Targaryen). As a known admirer of the show, Pitt jumped into the silent auction bidding with enthusiasm.
The bidding kicked off at around $20,000. Pitt quickly entered the fray, starting with an $80,000 offer. He then upped his own bid to $90,000. Things heated up further when Clarke’s co-star Kit Harington (Jon Snow himself) returned to the room and generously offered to join the viewing session as well—turning it into a potential trio watch party. That twist prompted Pitt to raise his paddle again, pushing his commitment to a impressive $120,000.Despite the star power and escalating excitement, Pitt was ultimately outbid. An anonymous attendee clinched the prize with a final bid of $160,000. All proceeds from the auction—and the gala overall, which featured other big-ticket items and drew celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lena Dunham—went directly to supporting Haiti’s recovery and ongoing humanitarian needs.Emilia Clarke later reflected on the wild moment in interviews (including appearances on shows like The Graham Norton Show and during press for Solo: A Star Wars Story).
She described the evening as utterly “surreal” and one of the most thrilling, bizarre, and memorable nights she’d ever had at a charity event. She called Pitt a “perfect fan” and noted how flattering yet strange it felt to see such legendary figures enthusiastically bidding for time with her. In one recounting, she highlighted the absurdity and excitement of the whole scenario, saying it ranked among the “weirdest” and best experiences of her life up to that point.The anecdote perfectly captured a fun, lighthearted slice of celebrity culture intersecting with philanthropy—proving that even A-listers can turn into giddy superfans when Game of Thrones is involved. The event raised millions overall, underscoring how star-studded auctions can drive real impact for causes like Haiti relief. 22 web pages
