Marilyn Monroe is an eternal cinema legend, but her most prized personal possession was a white baby grand piano. The instrument originally belonged to her mother, Gladys, but was sold when Gladys was institutionalized. Throughout her rise to fame, Marilyn searched for the piano, eventually finding it and buying it back. She kept it in her New York apartment until her death in 1962. The piano represented a rare, tangible link to her childhood. Decades later, another legend, Mariah Carey, purchased the piano at auction for over $600,000 as a tribute to her idol. This instrument serves as a poignant reminder that even the most glamorous legends have private, musical anchors to their past. The piano has become one of the most famous pieces of Hollywood memorabilia in existence.