posted August 18, 2009 03:15 AM         

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When it comes to sleeping with a bona fide Hollywood sex symbol, death need not necessarily be an impediment. Thanks to Los Angeles widow Elsie Poncher, who is auctioning off a burial plot atop that occupied by Marilyn Monroe, it may even count as an advantage.

Poncher's advertisment on eBay offers prospective corpses the chance to "spend eternity directly above Marilyn Monroe". Bidding opened last week at $500,000 (£300,000) and has already topped $4.5m, with more than seven days left to run.

The plot, at LA's exclusive Westwood Village cemetery, is currently home to the remains of Poncher's late husband Richard, who died in 1986. In accordance with his dying wishes, Poncher was buried face down in his crypt. "He said, 'If I croak, if you don't put me upside down over Marilyn, I'll haunt you for the rest of my life," Poncher explained to the LA Times newspaper.

In life, Poncher reportedly made his fortune as an entrepreneur. According to his widow, he was "a helluva nice guy", who "knew all the gangsters in LA". She added that she was now "vacating" his remains in order to earn the money to pay off the mortgage on her Beverly Hills home.

The successful bidder will eventually move into a select neighbourhood of dearly departed celebrities. Other longterm residents of Westwood Village cemetery include Roy Orbison, Truman Capote and Dean Martin.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/17/marilyn-monroe-grave-ebay