Someone paid $1.5 mil to ride shotgun with Leonardo DiCaprio into space

Calling “shotgun” got pretty expensive for an unnamed bidder who dropped $1.5 million to sit next to Leonardo DiCaprio for a flight into space.

Leo already had himself a seat booked on Sir Richard Branson’s upcoming Virgin Galactic space flight and the actor took the opportunity to raise some serious cash for charity by selling the seat next to him. The auction took place during amfAR’s annual gala and auction at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

This year’s event raked in over $25 million to battle HIV/AIDS as other celebrities in attendance included Adrien Brody (who sold the Bulgari watch he was wearing for around $116,000) Nicole Kidman, Rosario Dawson, Goldie Hawn, Stacy Keibler, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Renner and Christoph Waltz.

Props to Leo for the incredibly gracious offering (he also raised another $2.3 million with a package deal involving some serious access). I hope the winning bidder is good company – that’s a long way to travel next to a stranger after all!

DiCaprio Image: Johnnie Walker® Blue Label/WENN.com