A pair of iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” has been sold at auction for a record-breaking $28 million, more than triple the initial estimate of $3 million. The shoes were stolen from a museum in 2005 and their whereabouts remained a mystery until they were recovered by the FBI in 2018.
Terry Jon Martin, who stole the slippers, pleaded guilty to the crime in October 2023 after an associate told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value. However, it was later revealed that the rubies were glass.
The shoes were returned to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had loaned them to the museum, and are one of only four pairs known to have survived. Over 800 people were tracking the slippers’ auction, with the webpage attracting nearly 43,000 page views before bidding began.
The sale sets a new record for entertainment memorabilia, surpassing the previous record of $5.52 million for Marilyn Monroe’s white dress. Other items from “The Wizard of Oz” also sold at the auction, including a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who played the original Wicked Witch of the West.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/stolen-ruby-slippers-worn-judy-163231141.html