Online green auction raises $1m

New York : Australian actor Hugh Jackman has been bested by a Manhattan window dresser — at least in an online green auction which raised about $1 million (Dh3.67 million) for the environment.

Jackman, Christina Aguilera, John McEnroe, David Duchovny and Candice Bergen were among celebrities who donated experiences such as on-set visits, lunches or VIP concert tickets.

But the stars were all eclipsed by Barneys New York creative director Simon Doonan, creator of the retail store's legendary holiday season windows.

Bids for Doonan's behind-the-scenes preview of the often-edgy windows and studio tour, lunch and a $5,000 store gift card soared to $60,000, or many times the offering's stated value of $8,000 in the "A Bid to Save the Earth" auction, which ended on Thursday.

By contrast, a day with Jackman on the set of his new film Real Steel shooting in Michigan managed $8,000, far less than the $20,000 listed value.

Proceeds totalling about $1 million were earmarked for environmental groups Oceana, Natural Resources Defence Council, The Central Park Conservancy and Conservation International.