Pope's used iPad sold to anon bidder for $30,500

The pope is an iPad user, and like any gadget user, he has parted ways with his outdated slate. Unlike most used gadgets, however, this one attracted the attention of people the world over — for obvious reasons — ultimately selling for a pretty penny: $30,500 USD, to be exact. It was sold at an auction earlier this week, and the money that was made in the sale went to a school in Uruguay for disadvantaged kids. The person who bought the tablet is from Argentina, but who he is isn't known, with the successful bidder asking to be anonymous.

The pope's iPad features the card shown below, which certifies it as having belonged to Pope Francis. It includes the particulars like a date (October 29, 2014), as well as a model number and authorizing signature. The bidding for it started at a hefty $20,000 USD, and according to the Montevideo auctioneer Juan Castells, the bidding process was "intense".

When it came down to the wire, it was an unnamed businessman in Uruguay who is said to have wrapped up the bidding process for the Argentine who hired him. Neither the bidder nor the buyer have been named. Said the auctioneer to MarketWatch, "I believe he is very Catholic." Apparently the anonymous bidder is well-known, so much so that even a hint about his business could give away his identity.

"He's so well-known," said Castells. As for the iPad itself, its uniqueness is shown by more than its certificate — it also features engraving that reads "His Holiness Francis", and it, interestingly enough, included a Logitech keyboard in black. The school to which the funds will go isn't yet in operation.

SOURCE: MarketWatch