In a jaw-dropping auction moment that would make even the Wicked Witch of the West do a double-take, a mystery bidder dropped a whopping $28 million on the legendary ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz during Heritage Auctions' event in Dallas on Saturday (Dec. 07, 2024). The final price tag, including the buyer's premium and auction house fees, totaled an impressive $32.5 million, though the lucky winner's identity remains under wraps.
These magical slippers, which sparked more excitement than a tornado in Kansas, were found among a treasure trove of vintage Hollywood costumes and purchased by a passionate collector. Their journey took a dark turn in 2005 when thieves snatched them during a brazen nighttime heist from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn. The case remained cold for years until two Minnesota men with checkered pasts were linked to the crime: Terry Jon Martin of Grand Rapids confessed to the theft, while Jerry Hal Saliterman allegedly buried them in his Crystal backyard. Martin has already pleaded guilty, and Saliterman's day in federal court is set for January.
The bidding frenzy for these iconic shoes kicked off in early November online, reaching $1.55 million before the live auction began. The Garland Museum team, armed with $100,000 from the Legislature and additional fundraising efforts, headed to Texas for the big event, accompanied by documentary filmmakers capturing every moment of this incredible story.
While the ruby slippers might have exceeded the museum's budget, the auction offered plenty of other “Oz” treasures for fans to chase. The event featured 32 lots of movie memorabilia, including rare photographs, an original script, vintage books, and even the witch's iconic hat. However, the crown jewel remained the ruby slippers – a unique pair crafted by Innes Shoe Co. These stunning heels, made of red silk faille with hand-sequined silk and rhinestone-decorated bows, bear Judy Garland's name. Interestingly, they're mismatched – the right slipper matches the left one of another pair housed in Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian Institution, according to expert Rhys Thomas.
The “Oz” auction segment turned into a delightful celebration, complete with spontaneous singalongs to beloved movie tunes and plenty of Yellow Brick Road references.
These dazzling slippers aren't the only pair that clicked their heels in the 1939 classic. A Hollywood memorabilia enthusiast stumbled upon three pairs of ruby slippers while sorting through vintage costumes for the MGM Star Wardrobe Auction. One pair headed to auction, while Kent Warner, the lucky sorter, kept another pair for himself.
The pair that just fetched $28 million had previously belonged to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw before becoming entangled in a wild Minnesota crime caper. Meanwhile, another pair found its way to a collector in Tennessee.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences owns another pair, acquired in 2012 through the star power of Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg. These slippers now sparkle as a centerpiece attraction at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
Shaw frequently showcased the slippers in his traveling Hollywood collection exhibitions, occasionally lending them to the Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, where Judy spent her childhood years. Fate took a dark turn in August 2005 when thieves snatched the slippers from the museum display, leaving behind just one lonely sequin as evidence.
The mystery lingered for almost two decades until the shoes resurfaced in a 2018 FBI sting operation. Terry Jon Martin, a man with a colorful criminal history who had been living quietly in rural Grand Rapids, finally admitted to the heist.
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