Iconic <a href="https://www.archyde.com/the-stolen-and-found-wizard-of-oz-ruby-slippers-a-legendary-tale/" title="The Stolen and Found Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers: A Legendary Tale”>Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Sell for Record-Breaking $32.5 Million
The shoes, stolen and recovered from a Minnesota museum, are now the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.
A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the cinematic masterpiece “The Wizard of Oz” shattered auction records on Saturday, selling for a staggering $32.5 million at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
The shoes, one of only four surviving pairs used in the beloved 1939 movie, were previously owned by collector Michael Shaw and generously lent to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
They were stolen from the museum in 2005 and remained missing until 2018, when they resurfaced in a sting operation in Minneapolis.
The identity of the lucky buyer remains confidential.
A Treasure Beyond Price
It was not just a pair of ruby slippers crossing the auction block. It was a piece of cinematic history, a symbol of innocence, and a testament to the enduring power of dreams.
Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena remarked, “There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia.” He went on to highlight, “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture.”
With auction house commissions added, the final price for the ruby slippers was an astonishing $32.5 million, nearly 11 times the pre-auction estimate of $3 million.
Their impressive sale smashes the previous record for movie memorabilia, solidifying these iconic ruby slippers as the most valuable cinema treasures ever sold.
Do you think the turbulent history of the slippers, including their theft and recovery, increased their value and mystique?
## From Oz to Auction Block: Iconic Ruby Slippers Fetch Record Price
**Host:** Joining us today is Alex Reed, a renowned film historian and collector, to discuss the astounding sale of Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” These iconic shoes just fetched a record-breaking $32.5 million at auction.
Alex Reed, this sale has shattered all previous records for movie memorabilia. What do you make of this astronomical price?
**Alex Reed:**
**Host:** Indeed. Considering their troubled past, including being stolen and later recovered, do you think this history added to their value, almost making them legendary in their own right?
**Alex Reed:**
**Host:** Some might argue that $32.5 million is an excessive price for a pair of shoes, even ones with such cultural significance. What would you say to those who find this price tag outrageous?
**Alex Reed:**
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Alex Reed. This remarkable sale certainly raises a lot of questions about the nature of value and the enduring power of cinematic treasures like the ruby slippers.
