Heidi Klum Encourages Boyfriend To Buy Giant Snail Art At Amfar Bash

The German beauty served as the event's chair on Saturday (26Sep15) and helped to boost the price of the large sculpture by publicly teasing her partner.

"Vito, I thought you were going to buy me the snail!", the stunner joked at the bash.

The art dealer, son of filmmaker Julian Schnabel, obliged and placed the winning bid of $22,000 (£13,750) for the 11-foot (three-metre) tall snail, created by the Cracking Art Group.

Klum later revealed she plans to place the creation in her garden.

Other pricey lots at the auction included a high-speed car race in Las Vegas with Furious 7 star Michelle Rodriguez, which was snapped up for $83,900 (£52,438) by Ferrari heir Lapo Elkann, and an autographed 1970 picture of Debbie Harry, taken by rock photographer Mick Rock, which sold for $22,000 (£13,750).

The Milan amfAR event, which featured a performance from Harry herself, raised a record $1.6 million (£1 million) for the AIDS research charity, the most in its seven-year history.

Klum, 42, began dating Schnabel, 29, in early 2014. He was previously linked to actress Demi Moore.