Billionaire Idar Vollvik, founder of Internet telephone company Chess, bought the boots from charity organization Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening in a Norwegian television show.

The Beckham boots have a history of charity fund raising. Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening acquired them in January when the proceeds went to tsunami victims.

Vollvik's money will be spent on tents for people who remain homeless three months after the October 8 earthquake, which claimed 73,000 lives mostly in Pakistani Kashmir.

Three million were left without shelter in a region where winters are usually harsh.