Ruby Slippers Worn by Judy Garland Fetch a Record $28 Million at Auction

The iconic ruby red slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in the classic film The Wizard of Oz have shattered records, selling for an astounding $28 million (£22 million) at a US-based auction on Saturday. This pair, one of only four surviving from the film, was once stolen from a Minnesota museum, adding to its unique and fascinating history.

From Stolen Treasures to Hollywood History

Online bidding for the legendary ruby slippers began a month ago. Auctioneers Heritage Auctions initially estimated a sale price of up to $3 million (£2.35 million). However, the final price soared far beyond expectations, reaching a staggering $28 million. This makes them the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.

“The auctioneers called the slippers the ‘Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia’,” stated an auction representative, highlighting the immense significance of the sale.

The winning bid, met with applause in the Dallas auction room, coincided with renewed public interest in the musical. The recent release of the prequel film Wicked has reignited the magic of Oz, making this sale even more historic.

The Legacy of a Classic

Garland was just 16 years old when she brought Dorothy to life in the timeless 1939 musical. The Wizard of Oz consistently ranks among the greatest films ever made. The film itself is a musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved 1900 children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

While the book features silver slippers, the screen adaptation famously changed them to red to showcase the advancements in Technicolor technology. The iconic click of Dorothy’s ruby heels has become synonymous with hope and the power of believing in something greater.

The film’s enduring popularity is showcased by the fact that only four pairs of Garland’s ruby slippers are known to have survived to this day. One is on exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This particular pair, however, has its own remarkable story.

A Restoration of Justice

Collector Michael Shaw had loaned the slippers to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, when they were stolen in 2005. The brazen theft was carried out by professional thief Terry Jon Martin, who broke a glass case with a hammer. Martin believed the slippers were worth $1 million because they were studded with rubies, but upon examining them, he discovered they were only made of glass.

Despite discovering the truth, Martin still attempted to sell the slippers. They eventually reappeared in 2018 after an FBI sting operation. The missing 13 years of the slippers’ whereabouts remain a mystery.

In 2023, Martin, who was in his 70s and used a wheelchair, admitted to the theft and received a sentence of time served. John Kelsch, curator of the Judy Garland Museum, expressed a desire for closure, stating, “Just to do it because he thought they were real rubies and to turn them over to a jewelry fence. I mean, the value is not rubies. The value is an American treasure, a national treasure.”

The record-breaking sale of these iconic slippers is a testament to the enduring power of cinema and the magic of The Wizard of Oz.

Discover more fascinating facts about the history of cinema and iconic movie memorabilia.