Stolen ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' auctioned for $28 million

Minneapolis: A pair of ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in 'The Wizard of Oz' were auctioned for a record $28 million on Saturday. The slippers, stolen nearly two decades ago from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, were expected to fetch at least $3 million, but the auction surpassed that estimate within seconds, reaching the final amount in just 15 minutes. Including the auction house's fee, the final price for the unknown buyer was $32.5 million.

The Dallas-based Heritage Auctions reported that online bidding had begun last month at $1.55 million before live bidding escalated later in the day. The auction drew interest from over 800 people, with the auction page seeing nearly 43,000 views by Thursday, according to Robert Wilonsky, a vice president at the auction house.

The stolen slippers were taken in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin broke into the museum, smashing the display glass to steal the iconic footwear. Their whereabouts remained unknown until they were recovered by the FBI in 2018. Martin, now 77 and living near Grand Rapids, was indicted in May 2023 and pled guilty in October. Due to his health issues, including being wheelchair-bound and requiring supplemental oxygen, Martin was sentenced to time served in January 2024.

Martin’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, revealed that Martin had intended to secure a substantial sum after an associate connected to the mob told him the slippers were encrusted with real jewels. However, after learning that the rubies were merely glass, Martin disposed of them, though the attorney did not specify how. Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, from Crystal, a suburb of Minneapolis, was identified as the alleged fence and was indicted in March. His trial is scheduled for January, and he has pleaded not guilty.

The slippers were returned to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw in February, who had loaned them to the museum. Garland wore multiple pairs of slippers during filming, but only four pairs are known to have survived. Rhys Thomas, author of 'The Ruby Slippers of Oz', remarked that the slippers had experienced “more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road.”

The auction also featured other 'Wizard of Oz' memorabilia, such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West. That item sold for $2.4 million, bringing the buyer’s total cost to $2.93 million.

The sale set a new record for entertainment memorabilia, surpassing the $5.52 million paid for Marilyn Monroe's white dress from 'The Seven Year Itch'. The auction’s timing coincided with renewed interest in 'The Wizard of Oz due to the recent release of 'Wicked', a film adaptation of the Broadway prequel that explores the Wicked Witch’s story.

With PTI inputs