Rare crypt next to Marilyn Monroe could cost you staggering amount of money

Some people have a preference over whether they'd rather be buried or cremated when they die - and if the latter, where they would like their ashes to be scattered.

But it seems a very rare opportunity has become available to be laid to rest near the one and only Marilyn Monroe.

A mausoleum crypt at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles is going to auction, according to Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills.

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Monroe has been buried in crypt number 24 in Wall B at the Corridor of Memories for decades.

The spot up for auction - crypt number three - is just one row above and four spots along from Monroe, who was buried following her death in 1962.

Monroe sadly died of a drug overdose at the age of 36, on 4 August 1962.

Other celebs who are also interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery include singer and actor, Dean Martin, novelist Truman Capote and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who is actually directly next to Monroe.

“It’s the ultimate way to embrace Hollywood’s glamour and history," said CEO Darren Julien, of Julien's Auctions.

But if you want to be next to Monroe until the end of time, you should know it won't come cheap, with the crypt expected to reach hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.

While the opening bid for the crypt - which can 'hold a full body or ashes' - is $50,000, it's expected to fetch as much as $400,000 when it goes to auction.

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Ex-husband Joe DiMaggio is believed to have organised her burial at the Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery because two women - Grace Goddard and Ana Lower - who had helped look after Monroe when she was a child, were also buried there.

One person who previously spoke about being buried next to Monroe was Hugh Hefner.

The Playboy founder died in September 2017, and his remains were interred in the crypt directly next to Monroe.

He’d made his decision years beforehand, having told the Los Angeles Times in 2009: “I'm a believer in things symbolic. Spending eternity next to Marilyn is too sweet to pass up.”

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Hefner also confirmed that he paid $75,000 for the spot next to Monroe, despite the pair never actually meeting in person.

“I believe this is a rare opportunity to spend your eternity in the company of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner,” said the anonymous seller.