Slippers worn by American actress Judy Garland in 1939 film The Wizard of Oz break sales record, sold for US$28 million at auction

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

On Saturday, a pair of ruby slippers worn by American actress Judy Garland while portraying Dorthy in the 1939 American musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz were sold at Heritage Auctions in the US for US$28 million to an anonymous buyer. The Hollywood Reporter speculated that the origins and history of the shoes contributed to its high selling price.

The final selling price for the item exceeded estimations by US$25 million. With a buyer’s premium appended, the buyer will actually pay a total of US$32.5 million, setting an all-time record for highest selling price on an entertainment memorabilia item, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The previous record was US$5.52 million for the halterneck dress worn by Marylyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch.

According to CBS News, over 800 people bid on the shoes.

There were reportedly only four remaining pairs of ruby slippers worn in the film that have survived to the present day.

In addition to their veneration as a piece of the iconic character’s costume in the film, this particular pair of slippers made headlines again in 2005 when they were stolen while on display at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and for thirteen years were presumed lost until the FBI recovered them in 2018. The Judy Garland Museum was among the bidders in the auction, bidding to buy the slippers back from memorabilia antiquarian Michael Shaw. Shaw had loaned the wardrobe piece to the museum to begin with, and had regained possession after their recovery by authorities.

The shoes have been called the “Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia”, and “the most iconic piece of memorabilia in movie history” by auctioneers.

The Wizard of Oz has enjoyed renewed public attention in regards to the recent release of a prequel film centered on the original film’s antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West. A hat worn by Margaret Hamilton while portraying the character was among other memorabilia from the original film that was sold at auction.