The ruby slippers from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz are now the most expensive piece of film memorabilia in history.
The shoes, worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in the beloved film, sold at auction in Dallas for $28 million — $32.5 million including taxes and fees — on Saturday, December 7, Heritage Auctions announced. They are now considered the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia.
One of four surviving pairs worn by Garland in the classic film, the slippers sold for vastly more than the $10 million that the auction house’s executive vice president, Joe Maddalena , initially anticipated. The auction house did not immediately disclose the identity of the buyer.
“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” Maddalena said in a press release. “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors. It’s been a privilege for all of us at Heritage to be a part of the slippers’ epic journey over the rainbow and off to a new home.”