A pair of iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz has sold for an eye-popping $28 million at auction, making them the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold.
The auction, which took place on Saturday, December 7, at Heritage Auctions, saw the slippers sell for nearly 11 times their pre-auction estimate of $3 million.
These ruby slippers are one of only four known surviving pairs that Garland wore in the film, and their sale shattered previous records. The total price, including auction house commissions, reached a staggering $32.5 million.
Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena described the slippers as incomparable, emphasizing their cultural significance.
“The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors,” Maddalena said.
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The slippers had a dramatic history. In 2005, they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where they had been on display.
After years of mystery, the slippers were recovered in 2018 following a sting operation in Minneapolis.
The auction was fierce, with 25 bidders participating.
The slippers opened at $1.55 million and quickly escalated in value, with two final bidders battling it out before the winning bid was placed over the phone.
The slippers have long been a symbol of Hollywood and a cherished artifact from one of the most beloved films of all time.
“They transcended Hollywood, to the point where they represented the powerful image of innocence to all America,” said Rhys Thomas, author of The Ruby Slippers of Oz.
The sale of the slippers marks the most successful entertainment auction ever held, and their incredible price underscores their enduring cultural significance.
Other pairs of the slippers have been sold in the past, but none came close to this record-breaking amount.
In 2000, one pair went for $666,000, while another pair was purchased by Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio for $2 million and donated to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
These ruby slippers will forever remain a symbol of the magic and timeless legacy of The Wizard of Oz.