$32.5M Ruby Slippers Smash Auction Records Amid ‘Wicked’ Buzz
A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz recently became the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction, fetching $32.5 million in the Heritage Auctions sale that closed Dec. 7. The iconic shoes were sold alongside the hat worn by the Wicked Witch in the 1939 film; the hat sold for $2.9 million, NBC News reported.
Bidding for the shoes opened at $1.55 million, with a pre-auction estimate set at $3 million or higher. The record-breaking sale coincides with the viral success of the 2024 Wicked film, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, which reignited interest in the classic tale.
“The high auction sale really speaks to the nostalgia of the consumer and where the value comes from on an item like this,” said Renee Voigt , Senior Underwriter, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox , Scottsdale, Arizona. “These items are irreplaceable.”
Protecting an item of such monetary and sentimental value is a primary consideration for collectors, who would need to purchase a Personal Articles Floater to insure items that exceed the value of a standard Homeowners Insurance policy. This is relevant even for those with more modest film memorabilia collections, especially during the holiday gift-giving season.
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