Ringo Starr drum kit sold for more than £1.4 million

The owner of a National Football League team in America has shelled out £1.45 million ($2.2 million) for a drum kit played by Ringo Starr during the Beatles' early hits.

Julien's Auctions said Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay bought the drum kit, which has not been seen in public for more than 50 years, in an auction that ended on Saturday.

The three-day sale in Beverly Hills, California, featured more than 800 items including career memorabilia and personal goods owned by the musician and his wife, actress Barbara Bach.

The drum kit wasn't the only piece of memorabilia that Irsay invested in. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, the businessman also bought a Rickenbacker guitar that John Lennon gave to Starr as well as a ring owned by the drummer.

Irsay shelled out $910,000 on the guitar which was apparently gifted to the drummer as an apology for the disagreements going on within the band while they recorded the infamous White Album.

Irsay said: "I was 11 years old when the Beatles broke up. I was a Lennon fanatic – I mean, I loved Paul too, but Lennon was the guy – and there was always this dream of the Beatles getting back together; there was always this hope."

Talking about collecting the instruments and memorabilia, he said: "It took over 4 million dollars and 45 years, but we finally got them back together. I know it's a symbolic thing, but it really means a lot to me."

Earlier this year a guitar used by John Lennon was sold at auction for a staggering $2.4 million ($1.5 million).

The guitar was sold at the same auction house but it was not revealed who had purchased the piece of rock n' roll history.

The Daily Mail reported that the instrument had been used to write some of the Beatles' best known songs, and Lennon had bought it in Liverpool in 1962 for just £161.