The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago were sold at auction for a winning bid of $28 million. The estimated value was far exceeded as bidding quickly escalated. The final cost, including the auction house’s fee, totaled $32.5 million.
The iconic red heels were stolen in 2005 by Terry Jon Martin, who later pleaded guilty to the theft. The whereabouts of the slippers remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018. Martin, who had a history of burglary, attempted to sell the shoes after being told they were adorned with real jewels, only to find out they were fake.
The slippers were eventually returned to collector Michael Shaw, who loaned them to the museum. Only four pairs of the ruby slippers are known to have survived from the filming of the 1939 musical. The auction also included other memorabilia from the film, such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, the original Wicked Witch of the West.
The auction set a new record for entertainment memorabilia, surpassing the previous record held by Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress. The story of “The Wizard of Oz” continues to captivate audiences, with the recent release of the movie “Wicked” adding a new twist to the beloved tale.
