Man auctioning his 'life' celebrates bidding

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

SYDNEY (AFP) — A middle-aged man who is auctioning his life over the Internet was Sunday celebrating as bidders fought over who would take his job, home and friends, as he seeks to start over again.

The British immigrant to Australia, who said the trigger for his bold offer was the break-up with his wife, had hoped he would attract a bid of 500,000 dollars (477,000 US).

Shortly after the seven-day auction began Sunday, a bid of 300,100 dollars for 44-year-old Ian Usher's Perth-based lifestyle was listed on the Internet auction site eBay.

By late afternoon, some 40 bids had been made with the highest offer at 650,000 dollars.

"I brought out the champagne at three o'clock when it passed the 400,000-dollar mark," Usher told the Australian news agency...