"One of Russell Crowe's personal cars, this vehicle also served as one of the wedding cars on the day of his marriage to Danielle Spencer on 7 April 2003", a note next to the Mercedes says.

One bidder stumped up $7000 for the leather jockstrap Crowe wore in Cinderella Man (2005) and two life-sized prop horses from Gladiator went for $5500.

His torso armour from the Oscar winning Gladiator exceeded expectations, making A$125,000 ($95,000; £68,000) and the Master and Commander violin also sold well. He came to global attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

The actor sold off a whole heap of his belongings, including watches and movie memorabilia to raise money for his impending divorce, and needless to say the auction went very well indeed.

Hollywood star Crowe and his soon-to-be ex-wife Danielle Spencer, a singer and actress, partnered up with Sotheby's Australia to promote private gadgets with a complete worth of between $2.6m (£1.4m) and $3.7m (£2m).

"Not a bad hourly rate for a 5 hour shift", Crowe tweeted after the auction.

He then urged bidders wanting to buy an 1890 violin used in 2003 drama "Master and Commander" to "lend it to a young musician so it carries on and starts to play in the concert halls around the world".

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Stunt armor worn by Crowe when his character Maximus died in the film was expected to fetch up to $30,000.

Other impressive lots? A painting called "The Suitor" by Australian modern artist Charles Blackman for $360,000 AUD or roughly $276,000 United States dollars. While only expected to fetch $500-700 AUD or $380-530 United States dollars, a telephone bidder paid $11,000 AUD or roughly $8,400 USD for the piece.

The event was also broadcast on Crowe's Facebook page.

Russell paid twice what Martin had been offered by an auction house and promised his cousin if he ever sold the gear for more than what he paid he would share the profit with Martin.

Mr Singer said a handful of items were still available, namely a Grammy won by Johnny Cash and others in 1986 and a 2008 custom South Sydney Rabbitohs chopper motorcycle.

All bids attracted a commission of 22 per cent.