Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers From ‘Wizard of Oz’ Sold For Millions

A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” sold at auction on Saturday for an astounding price, setting a record as the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.

The sale also set a new record for an entertainment auction, with the event generating nearly $40 million in total.

Among the items sold was the Wicked Witch’s hat from “The Wizard of Oz,” which fetched $2.9 million.

The iconic slippers worn by Judy Garland sold for $32.5 million at auction. The heels are one of only four known surviving pairs from the 1939 classic and have a storied history, including being stolen from a museum before their recovery.

According to Heritage Auctions, live bidding for the iconic shoes began at $1.55 million, with initial estimates placing their value at $3 million or higher. The ruby slippers surpassed their initial estimate “within seconds,” with no other pair of ruby slippers coming close to their final selling price.

One pair sold for $666,000 in 2000, while another was purchased in 2012 by Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio for $2 million and later donated to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

This particular pair of ruby slippers carries an infamous history that may have contributed to their high value. In 2005, they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, by Terry Jon Martin, who smashed the display case with a hammer to steal the shoes, as reported by the Associated Press.

Thirteen years after the theft, the stolen ruby slippers were recovered in a 2018 FBI sting operation following a tip.

To confirm their authenticity, the recovered shoes were cross-referenced with a pair housed at the Smithsonian. According to the auction house, at some point, the pairs had been swapped, with each containing one shoe from two different sets of ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”

Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz” is one of the most celebrated performances in film history. At just 16 years old, Garland brought depth and charm to the role of a young Kansas farm girl swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. On her journey to the Emerald City to seek help from the Wizard, Dorothy befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, forming one of cinema’s most beloved ensembles.

Garland’s performance captured Dorothy’s innocence, determination, and sense of wonder, with her heartfelt rendition of “Over the Rainbow” becoming an iconic moment in film history. The song, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, remains synonymous with Garland’s legacy.

“The Wizard of Oz,” adapted from L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, was groundbreaking for its use of Technicolor, unforgettable music, and imaginative storytelling.

The Ruby Slippers are among the most iconic and frequently asked-about artifacts at The Smithsonian. They serve as the centerpiece of an exhibition at the National Museum of American History, where millions of visitors are captivated by them each year. Of the original pairs created for “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939, four are known to have survived over 85 years since the film was made at MGM Studios in Culver City.

As Rhys Thomas stated in his book, “The Ruby Slippers of Oz,” the ruby slippers “were much more than just a piece of Hollywood memorabilia, much more than a valuable piece of industry history. They transcended Hollywood, to the point where they represented the powerful image of innocence to all America.”

The Ruby Slippers are a vintage creation by the Innes Shoe Co., meticulously crafted from red silk faille with uppers and heels adorned with hand-sequined silk georgette. The shoes are lined in white leather, with leather soles painted red and orange felt adhered to the front foundation. Their bows, slightly differing in size, are made of hand-cut buckram cloth, edged with rhinestones, and filled with bugle beads encircling three center jewels.

Each shoe has unique characteristics: the left shoe features a slightly thicker, shorter heel with a Cat’s Paw rubber top lift cap, while the right shoe has a taller, thinner heel capped with leather. Both caps are painted red, and the shoes display a deep burgundy hue, a result of careful storage out of direct light. Inside each shoe is an embossed label reading “Innes Shoe Co., Los Angeles, Pasadena, Hollywood,” while “Judy Garland” is inscribed neatly in black ink on the inner white leather lining of both shoes.