One of Hollywood’s most enchanting relics — the Wizard of Oz ruby slippers — has been sold at auction by Heritage Auctions for a staggering $28 million USD.
These ruby slippers, famously worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, have come to symbolise the timeless theme of the power of dreams and homecoming from the unforgettable line “There’s no place like home”
The Dallas-based auction house has estimated that ‘Dorothy’s ruby slippers would sell for $3 million USD or more. However, the popularity surrounding the film Wicked may have piqued the interest of even more collectors than anticipated. In fact, the auction defied expectations and the winning bid for the ruby slippers was a whopping $28 million. The winner will ultimately pay $32.5 million USD thanks to the auction house’s selling fee.
The slippers famously were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 by ex-mobster Terry Jon Martin. He believed that the slippers were encrusted with actual rubies — due to them being insured for a million US dollars. The shoes were recovered by the FBI in 2018 and were valued at $3.5 million USD.
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s iconic journey through the land of Oz is marked by her sparkling ruby slippers. The shoes, one of several pairs created for the film, have become one of the most sought-after items in Hollywood memorabilia. They represent a key part of the Wizard of Oz legacy that spans film, theatre, and popular culture.
The ruby slippers are a lasting tribute to the cinematic legend that taught generations the importance of courage, friendship, and finding one’s way home.
As expected, these ruby slippers ignited bidding wars, capturing hearts just as they did over eight decades ago. Online bidding, was reportedly at $1.55 million USD before live bidding began on December 7.
