Iconic face of KFC: Colonel Sanders’ home and personal items up for auction

A collection of personal belongings once owned by Colonel Harland Sanders, the legendary founder of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), attracted collectors from around the world as dozens of historic items went under the hammer at an auction in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Organized by The Menish Group, the event featured 71 rare pieces connected to Sanders’ life and career, offering a glimpse into the history of one of the world's most recognizable fast-food brands.

Among the standout items was Sanders’ 1964 personal planner, which sold for $30,000 after years of public fascination because it reportedly contained handwritten notes related to KFC’s famous herbs and spices recipe. The planner had previously been at the center of a legal dispute when KFC attempted to keep its contents private, although the company later acknowledged it did not contain the chain’s secret formula.

Other prized memorabilia included Sanders’ signature black clip-on bow tie, which inspired the iconic KFC logo and sold for $8,000, an original restaurant cash register that fetched $5,000, and an honorary Kentucky Colonel certificate that brought in $23,000.

A sculpted bust created by Sanders’ daughter was also among the popular auction items. Sanders established the Shelbyville property as the headquarters of his growing restaurant business in the late 1950s before selling it, along with his home and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, to the Settle family in 1974. The restaurant continues to operate today, preserving an important chapter of KFC’s history.

Auction organizers said interest came from collectors across the globe, reflecting Sanders’ enduring influence as one of the world's first celebrity entrepreneurs and brand ambassadors. Although he sold KFC to investors in 1964, Sanders remained the public face of the company for years, helping transform the fried chicken chain into a global restaurant empire.

Today, KFC operates tens of thousands of outlets worldwide, and Colonel Sanders remains one of the most recognizable figures in the food industry. The successful auction highlights the lasting cultural and historical significance of the man whose image continues to define one of the world's biggest fast-food brands.