After initially estimated to fetch six figures, the iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” have raked in millions.
The legendary shoes sold at auction for $32.5 million on Saturday, setting a new record as the most valuable movie memorabilia ever auctioned.
One of only four surviving pairs from the 1939 film, these slippers have a storied past, including being stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005. The auction’s winning bid of $28 million, plus $4.5 million in fees, eclipsed previous records.
“No other pair of ruby slippers has gone for close to that amount,” Heritage Auctions announced, emphasizing their unmatched value.
Bidding began at $1.55 million and quickly surpassed the initial $3 million estimate. The slippers also helped Heritage Auctions achieve a record-breaking $40 million total for the event, which included the Wicked Witch’s hat, sold for $2.9 million.
The slippers’ fame grew during their theft and recovery saga. In 2005, 77-year-old Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to steal the shoes, later abandoning them after learning the “jewels” were merely glass. Thirteen years later, the FBI recovered the stolen pair in a sting operation, confirming their authenticity by comparing them with a pair at the Smithsonian. Returned to original owner Michael Shaw in 2023, they made their way to the auction block.
Despite fundraising efforts, the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota failed to secure the slippers, which had drawn community and legislative support. “Sadly, we didn’t win,” the museum shared post-auction after raising funds through donations and their annual Judy Garland Festival.
The slippers’ journey from cinematic artifact to global auction star underscores their enduring allure. As Heritage Auctions noted, no other memorabilia item has captivated collectors quite like Judy Garland’s magical ruby slippers.
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