A stunning pair of ruby slippers, famously worn by Judy Garland in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” has been sold at auction for an astounding $28 million. These iconic shoes were stolen from a museum almost 20 years ago and were estimated to fetch around $3 million, but competitive bidding quickly drove the price up to the final amount.
The auction, held by Heritage Auctions, saw several bidders participating through phone calls, rapidly escalating the price in just 15 minutes. When including the auction house’s fees, the total cost to the buyer comes to $32.5 million.
Prior to the live auction, online bidding had started at just $1.55 million. The slippers, which were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, were stolen in 2005 when a thief used a hammer to break into the museum.
The slippers remained missing until they were recovered by the FBI in 2018. The thief, Terry Jon Martin, was not publicly identified until May 2023, when he was indicted. He pleaded guilty in October of the same year and was sentenced to time served due to health issues, including his use of a wheelchair and supplemental oxygen.
His attorney noted that Martin had a history of burglaries and was trying to commit “one last score” after being misled about the value of the ruby slippers. Initially believed to have real jewels, it turned out the slippers were adorned with glass.
The alleged accomplice who Martin worked with, Jerry Hal Saliterman, has also faced legal troubles and is scheduled for trial in January.
Following the auction, the ruby slippers were returned to Michael Shaw, a memorabilia collector who had loaned them to the museum. This pair is one of just four known to still exist.
The sale of the slippers attracted considerable attention, and over 800 people followed the auction closely. The previous record for a piece of entertainment memorabilia was $5.52 million, a sum paid for the iconic white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Additionally, other items from “The Wizard of Oz,” including a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, were also up for auction. That item sold for $2.4 million.
The cultural significance of “The Wizard of Oz” has been rekindled recently with the release of “Wicked,” a celebrated adaptation that explores characters from the original story. The enduring legacy of these ruby slippers reminds us of their impact on film history and popular culture.
