Judy Garland’s Iconic Ruby Slippers Just Sparked the Most Heartwarming Bidding War in Movie History

Quick Smiles:

• Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz sold for a jaw-dropping $28 million — nearly three times the expected price!
• These sparkling treasures are one of only four known pairs still in existence, making them Hollywood’s most valuable memorabilia ever.
• The Wicked Witch’s hat from the same beloved film also sold for nearly $3 million, proving the magic of Oz still captivates hearts 85 years later.

Many of us have gone Wicked and fallen in love with Glinda and Elphaba. It’s a pink and green world, but we can’t forget where it all started.

L. Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz in 1900, and fans fell in love. This led to the beloved motion picture starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in 1939.

The ruby red slippers are one of the most essential parts of The Wizard of Oz storyline. The sparkling red shoes create conflict and ultimately help Dorothy escape Oz and return to her family in Kansas.

Costumers produced several pairs of ruby red slippers for Judy Garland to wear during the filming of The Wizard of Oz, and a pair recently sold for a record-breaking price that has collectors and film lovers buzzing with excitement.

According to The New York Times, the shoes sold during a live auction in Dallas and were one of two pieces of original memorabilia from the film. Experts anticipated the shoes would garner a hefty amount of money, but no one could have predicted how much.

Experts estimated the shoes would sell for about $10 million. Instead, the ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz sold for a staggering $28 million — nearly triple the estimate!

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auction House, said the slippers are among only four known pairs still in existence.

“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” he said.

While the ruby slippers took the top prize, the Wicked Witch of the West hat worn by Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz fetched nearly $3 million the same day. Talk about a magical auction!

The auction house did not disclose the buyer’s identity but confirmed that they paid $32.5 million, including tax and fees, for the ruby red slippers. Whoever the new owner is, they’ve just acquired the most valuable piece of movie history ever sold.

These sparkling shoes remind us that some stories never lose their magic. From Dorothy’s journey home to the yellow brick road we all dreamed of following as children, The Wizard of Oz continues to warm hearts and inspire wonder across generations.

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