Damien Hirst portrait of DiCaprio picked up for $1.3 mn at Cannes auction

Cannes, May 26 At 11:30 p.m. on Thursday in the South of France, the amfAR Cannes gala quietly welcomed one of the biggest movie stars in the world to dinner in a tent off the Mediterranean Sea, writes 'Variety'.

Leonardo DiCaprio had been missing for several years at the glitzy charity auction that marks the end of partying at the Cannes Film Festival, but this year, he brought a date his mom, Irmelin Indenbirken.

Leo, who came to Cannes with Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon', took the back entrance into the party, skipping the red carpet packed with European influencers and socialites taking selfies in ballgowns that looked like prom dresses, continues 'Variety'.

At around midnight, the charity devoted to raising money for AIDS research unveiled a one-of-a-kind portrait of DiCaprio. Two men rolled the large canvas of art onstage, as if they were handling the Mona Lisa. This was not a gag it was, in fact, actually valuable, notes 'Variety'.

According to the auctioneer, Damien Hirst had been commissioned to paint the 'Titanic' star. Then, some time later, the painting was sold to a private collector, who had donated it back to amfAR to give someone else the opportunity to hang Leo in their living room, adds 'Variety'.

As the bids flew, DiCaprio's mom stood up with her phone to film all the rich people fighting over a portrait of her son. She looked ecstatic as the final bid was called. Sold! For $1.3 million.