Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz Fetch Record $28 Million at Auction

A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz was sold for $28 million at a recent auction, significantly exceeding expectations. The slippers, once stolen and recovered, are one of four surviving pairs, highlighting their value as a piece of cinematic history.

In a stunning turn of events at a Dallas auction, a pair of ruby red slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz sold for an astonishing $28 million. This sale, which took place on Saturday, marks a historic moment in the world of Hollywood memorabilia; it is the highest price ever commanded for such items in an auction.

The slippers, renowned for their dazzling sequined design, were one of only four surviving pairs from the film, and their popularity surged following recent interest in the musical, especially with the release of the prequel movie Wicked. Initial online bidding, which began over a month ago, had estimated the slippers would sell for around $3 million, a projection that turned out to be grossly underestimated.

Heritage Auctions, the auction house overseeing the sale, referred to the slippers as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia." The ecstatic reactions in the auction room reflected the significance of the occasion, as applause erupted following the winning bid.

Garland, who was just 16 at the time she portrayed Dorothy, remains an enduring symbol in cinema history. The Wizard of Oz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children's book, is often celebrated as one of the greatest films of all time, having garnered such recognition by media outlets like Variety.

This particular pair of slippers has a fascinating backstory; they were stolen from a Minnesota museum in 2005 by professional thief Terry Jon Martin, who mistakenly believed they were encrusted with real gemstones due to their insured value of $1 million. After taking them, Martin discovered their true nature and gave them to an associate.

The slippers remained missing for 13 years until the FBI recovered them during a sting operation in 2018. Martin, now in his 70s, pled guilty in 2023 for the theft and received a minimal sentence. The curator of the Judy Garland Museum, John Kelsch, expressed a desire to understand the slippers' journey during the time they were stolen, emphasizing their significance as a national treasure rather than just a valuable piece of jewelry.