For film fans, few objects are as iconic as the ruby-red slippers from The Wizard of Oz. These shoes, worn by Judy Garland’s Dorothy, have enchanted audiences since 1939.
Now, they’ve made history again, fetching $32.5 million at an auction on December 7, making them the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold, according to Ziare.
The slippers are one of four surviving pairs used in the film. Their journey has been as dramatic as the story of Oz itself. In 2005, they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The thief, Terry Jon Martin, smashed a glass case and made off with the prized shoes. For over a decade, their whereabouts remained a mystery.
In 2018, an undercover FBI operation recovered the slippers. After careful authentication against another pair at the Smithsonian, they were returned to their owner, Michael Shaw, earlier this year.
Other Items Also Auctioned Off
At the auction, interest soared. Bidding began at $1.55 million, with expectations set around $3 million. Within seconds, the price surpassed estimates. The final hammer price of $32.5 million shattered all previous records.
This isn’t the first time ruby slippers have captured collectors’ imaginations.
In 2000, another pair sold for $666,000. In 2012, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio bought a pair for $2 million, later donating them to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The auction also included other Wizard of Oz items. The Wicked Witch’s hat sold for $2.9 million, adding to a total sale of nearly $40 million.
For many, these slippers are more than a prop. They symbolize the enduring magic of classic cinema and the nostalgia of Dorothy’s timeless journey. Their record-breaking sale is a testament to their cultural significance.
As for Martin, the thief, he admitted to the crime, claiming he believed the slippers were decorated with real jewels. Due to his age and poor health, he was sentenced to time served.
Now safely preserved, the ruby slippers remain a shimmering reminder that there’s no place like home—or the enduring charm of Hollywood’s golden age.
