A pair of the iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz sold for an astonishing $28 million at auction on Saturday, far surpassing initial estimates. With additional fees, the buyer’s total comes to $32.5 million, setting a new record for entertainment memorabilia.
The sale, managed by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, saw intense competition during a live bidding session. Opening bids stood at $1.55 million but skyrocketed within minutes as phone bidders battled for the coveted item. The previous record for a piece of movie memorabilia—Marilyn Monroe’s white dress from The Seven Year Itch—was eclipsed by nearly six times.
The ruby slippers are among the most recognizable pieces of Hollywood history. Judy Garland wore several pairs while portraying Dorothy Gale, but only four have survived. These slippers had been on display at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, until their dramatic theft in 2005.
The slippers disappeared when a thief shattered a glass case and the museum’s door during the night. For 13 years, their fate remained unknown until the FBI located and recovered them in 2018.
The man behind the heist, Terry Jon Martin, was only charged in 2023. By then, the 77-year-old was in poor health, confined to a wheelchair, and reliant on oxygen. He pleaded guilty in October and received a sentence of time served due to his deteriorating condition.
According to Martin’s attorney, the theft was a misguided attempt to stage a “last big score.” Martin believed the slippers’ supposed value of $1 million hinged on real ruby embellishments—a myth perpetuated by an acquaintance with alleged mob ties. Once he learned the rubies were glass, Martin discarded the slippers, though how they were eventually recovered remains unclear.
The case also implicated an alleged accomplice. Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, who is accused of helping Martin sell the slippers, is set to stand trial next year. Saliterman has denied all charges.
After their recovery, the slippers were returned to collector Michael Shaw, who had loaned them to the museum. Shaw’s pair is one of the most valuable of the remaining four, thanks to their pristine condition and association with pivotal scenes in the film.
Ahead of the auction, interest in the slippers soared, with over 43,000 page views on the auction house’s website and more than 800 people tracking the sale. Among the bidders was the Judy Garland Museum, which had raised funds from local events and state grants in hopes of bringing the slippers back to Grand Rapids. However, their efforts fell short.
The auction also featured other memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz, including Margaret Hamilton’s hat as the Wicked Witch of the West, which sold for $2.4 million.
The timing of the auction coincides with a resurgence of interest in The Wizard of Oz, spurred by the release of Wicked. The new film, based on the hit Broadway musical, reimagines the story from the perspective of the Wicked Witch and has reignited nostalgia for the original movie.
Rhys Thomas, author of The Ruby Slippers of Oz, remarked on the extraordinary journey of these sequined heels, calling it “a tale as winding as the Yellow Brick Road.”
