Totemism. Idolatry. Animism.

Saw that an early episode of Pawn Stars had the shop considering buying O.J. Simpson's white Bronco for a million bucks.

Over on the music board I monitor, somebody mentioned an exhibit of some of Captain Beefheart's paintings.

Neither of these would be worth donkey spit if the progenitor wasn't famous. Same reason why some knuckleheads like to get stuff autographed. What's up with that?

Same reason some women like to fuck celebrities.  "Reflected glory" or some such, where touching a celebrity, getting a celebrity's autograph, owning something once owned by a celebrity (like one of Steve McQueen's cars) makes you somehow share in his celebrity.

Paul Allen spent million$ of dollar$ to buy remnants of Hendrix's smashed guitars, and they weren't even the real thing. Objectively, what is a smashed guitar worth?  Nothing -- without the idolatry.

It's the same pseudo-religion that drives the rare wine market.

And cargo cults and similar "savior" movements.

Including the current Republican Party.