Antiques Roadshow Shocker: Mysterious Jacket Tied to Global Icon Valued at £200,000

Is it possible for a TV show to become the very thing it obsesses over? Because if Antiques Roadshow were appraised by its own experts, someone might need to scramble for bubble wrap—48 seasons over 46 years certainly makes it an heirloom itself! Now, here’s a twist that’s as priceless as a misplaced Fabergé egg: while the show usually revels in gently shattering dreams (“that dusty watch is worth more than your car, sir!”), every so often, it flips the script with jaw-dropping revelations even the unflappable experts can’t resist. Take, for instance, the latest headline stealer—a battered old leather jacket. Not just any jacket, mind you. This one had a wild, romantic jet-set history that would make even James Dean envious: once belonging to none other than John F. Kennedy. Forget ‘something for the weekend’—how about something that redefines ‘presidential style’ and waltzes straight into a six-figure estimate? Suddenly, your grandad’s stamp collection feels a tad underwhelming . Think you know what treasures are hiding in plain sight? Well, let’s dive into this curiosity cabinet and see how one iconic show keeps outdoing itself, artifact by artifact . LEARN MORE

Antiques Roadshow is itself now an antique, having run for 48 seasons over the course of the last 46 years.

Whilst much of the best content on the show comes from seeing people arrive with a watch they think is worth £300 and be told it’s actually worth £2,000, that is not always the case.

In some cases, such as one displayed in a recent YouTube video posted by the BBC, those appearing on the show will likely have a fairly good idea that what they are bringing in is worth a huge amount.

This particular case saw a guest on the TV show bring in a leather jacket which was valued at a whopping £200,000.

Whilst you may think this is a tad bit steep for a leather jacket, it becomes more understandable once you realise that it was worn by one of the world’s most famous men.

It is revealed by the guest that the jacket was passed to him by a friend after being sold at auction.

It previously belonged to a U.S. president and one of the most recognisable names in the world.

The jacket had previously belonged to John F. Kennedy.

The guest explains how, saying that Swedish aristocrat, Gunilla von Post, was sent to finishing school in France, where she met the young American politician.

He went on to say: “Gunilla was 21 to 22 and lived in the south of France and then in Paris, and she was JFK’s lover before he got married to Jacqueline Bouvier.

“I believe the relationship ended in 1955 or 1956. She kept the jacket.

“Some of her belongings and love letters from JFK were sold recently in America and some of his goods were left in the apartment.”

JFK owned the jacket, making it worth six figures (Bettmann via Getty Images)

Jon Baddeley, the expert on the show, called the jacket an ‘iconic’ piece, saying: “Without the provenance, you’re not going to get the dollar signs, but that seems a very strong link.

“In America or anywhere world-wide, it is an iconic piece.

“The story’s everything, please write it down. I feel confident the market will pay that price.”

This came after he valued the jacket in the range of £200,000 to £300,000.

The footage was included in a video posted today (June 13) by BBC’s Antiques Roadshow YouTube channel, rounding up some of the highest valuations ever given on the show.

Another major find saw a British Army Silver Centrepiece valued at a whopping £750,000 in 2002.

This massive valuation came in part due to its links to the royal family, having been presented to an army regiment by King George IV.