Stolen ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz auctioned for US$28 million
The shoes were stolen from a Michigan museum in 2005 and their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018
A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of US$28 million at auction on Saturday.
Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch US$3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes. A few bidders making offers by phone volleyed back and forth for 15 minutes as the price climbed to the final, eye-popping sum.
Including the Dallas-based auction house’s fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay US$32.5 million.
Online bidding, which opened last month, had stood at US$1.55 million before live bidding began late on Saturday afternoon.
The sparkly red heels were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case.
