The 1962 J-160E Gibson acoustic guitar had for decades been in the possession of John McCaw, a novice musician who bought it in the late 1960s without knowing it had been stolen from the legendary Beatle several years before, said auctioneer Darren Julien.
Half of the proceeds from the sale of the guitar, which was stolen from Lennon at a December 1963 Christmas concert, will go toward the Spirit Foundation, a charitable organization that he and his widow, Yoko Ono, created, Julien said.
The buyer, who paid $2.41 million at a Julien's Auctions event, has asked to remain anonymous.
The drum head that was sold was used by The Beatles when they made their historic appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.