Ruby Slippers Fetch $28M at Auction: A Hollywood Treasure Rediscovered

The iconic sequined footwear worn by Judy Garland has captivated collectors and fans alike, significantly exceeding its estimated auction value, marking a milestone in Hollywood memorabilia history.

 

The legendary ruby slippers, famously worn by Judy Garland in the beloved film The Wizard of Oz, have captivated the world once more as they sold for an astounding $28 million at a recent auction. Occurring on Saturday, this sale not only sets a record but also elevates these prized shoes to the status of the most valuable movie memorabilia ever auctioned.

Only one of four known surviving pairs, these iconic slippers faced a tumultuous history, including theft from a museum in Minnesota back in 2005. Interest in the auction was heightened after the release of the prequel Wicked, leading to fervent online bidding that started a month earlier. Auctioneers at Heritage Auctions had initially anticipated a sale price of around $3 million, making the final bid a staggering overestimate of $25 million.

The ruby slippers were dubbed the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," which resonated deeply with fans and collectors. Their rich history is intertwined with the film itself, a beloved musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

When Garland starred as Dorothy at just 16 years old in the 1939 film, little did she know that those sequined pumps would generate such ecstatic interest almost a century later. The iconic shoes, originally silver in the book, were adapted to a brilliant red to showcase the film's groundbreaking Technicolor effects.

The pivotal moment when Dorothy clicks her heels three times while reciting "There's no place like home" remains ingrained in cinema history, symbolizing nostalgia and the longing for home. While Garland wore multiple pairs throughout the production, only four have survived to present day, one of them housed in the Smithsonian.

This particular pair gained notoriety after collector Michael Shaw's loan to the Judy Garland Museum led to their infamous theft by professional burglar Terry Jon Martin. In search of riches, Martin smashed the glass case but was greatly misled about the slippers' value, thinking they were encrusted with real gemstones. He eventually abandoned the slippers, spurring a lengthy investigation by the FBI, who recovered the treasures in 2018.

Martin pleaded guilty in 2023, receiving a sentence of time served. As John Kelsch, curator of the Judy Garland Museum, noted, there is closure but also lingering questions about the missing years of the slippers. "The value is an American treasure, a national treasure," he said regarding the true significance of Garland's iconic footwear.