Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, a defining Hollywood artefact, has set a new benchmark record, fetching $32.5 million at Heritage Auctions on Saturday. The sum not only underscores the cultural significance of The Wizard of Oz but also makes these shoes the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.
This is one of four pairs known from the 1939 classic from MGM; they were on Judy Garland’s feet as she danced and sang her way down that Yellow Brick Road. When sold amidst all the praises and bidding tussles, they simultaneously pushed the Sale to a record eyewatering figure, breaking the previous one by the 2011 Debbie Reynolds collection sale.
There’s simply no comparison to the cultural resonance of Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers,” said Joe Maddalena, Executive Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “Their breathtaking price reflects their unique place in cinematic and cultural history.
The Ruby Slippers’ provenance adds to their allure. Stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the pair remained missing for 13 years before being recovered by the FBI in 2018. After a detailed examination at the Smithsonian, the slippers were returned to owner Michael Shaw, who consigned them to this landmark auction.
The bidding, which started at $1.55 million, quickly exceeded expectations, sailing over the $3 million pre-auction estimate within moments. The final Sale obliterated the previous record for a pair of Ruby Slippers, which fetched $666,000 in 2000.
The allure of the memorabilia was not just the slippers. Even the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat, worn by Margaret Hamilton and designed by Gilbert Adrian, brought in $2.93 million and became the best example of its kind. A script copy of the film, Dorothy’s Kansas screen door, and Garland’s wig from the beginning of production were other highly sought-after items. This shows how great the fascination with this classic film is.
But treasures from Oz were not all there was to it. Also sold: the screen-used hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II for $237,500 and the “Wilson” volleyball from Cast Away for $162,500. A rare golden ticket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory realized $118,750. At the same time, a winter ensemble worn by Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone went for $162,500-not precisely what one might have called seasonal, but a welcome addition nonetheless.
Hollywood memorabilia continues to fascinate collectors from around the world, and this Sale sets new records, reinforcing the timelessness of cinema’s most iconic artefacts.