Ellen Barkin added a cool $20 million (10.8 million pounds) to her savings on Tuesday when she auctioned more than 100 pieces of jewellery given to her by ex-husband billionaire Ron Perelman during their six-year marriage.

The stunning total for the 103 lots of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls sold by the Emmy-winning actress far exceeded expectations of both Christie’s, which held the single-owner sale as part of this week’s “Magnificent Jewels” auctions, and Barkin herself.

Estimated to take in anywhere from about $10 million to $15 million, the collection bearing names such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co. and JAR, the renowned Paris designer Joel Arthur Rosenthal, instead soared to $20,369,200 including commission. It was the fourth-biggest single owner auction result in history.

“She was very, very pleased,” said Francois Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Europe and its international head of jewellery.

Posted: 10|11|06 at 8:02 am. Filed under: US News.