The Most Expensive ‘Star Wars’ Prop Has Been Sold for Seven Figures

Per the report by People magazine, the item was sold during Propstore’s now famous sale of Hollywood memorabilia. The event, where plenty of collector’s items from famous movies are available to anyone with enough cash to secure them, ran from September 4. Other important items sold at the auction include a whip and belt used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, one of the Sankara stones from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and a Stormtrooper helmet from Return of the Jedi.

However, the highlight of the sale was the lightsaber, the first ever Vader Hero edition to be sold. The final bid was for $3,654,000, and the precious prop landed in the hands of an undisclosed buyer. Propstore COO Brandon Alinger expressed his excitement about the sale and called the first day of the event a “landmark moment” in the history of the famous Los Angeles auction house. Alinger said the following about the lightsaber auction:

“Today’s result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”

Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Just Became One of the Most Expensive Movie Props Ever Sold

$3.6 million may seem extravagant and excessive, but we’re talking cinema history here. The lightsaber is arguably the most important item in Star Wars’ lore and owning the one used by Darth Vader himself is a dream of those who have loyally followed the franchise since its beginning. Nevertheless, at $3.6 million, the lightsaber isn’t the most expensive Hollywood memorabilia ever sold. That title is held by other items from some classic movies from cinema’s early years.

From ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (sold for $32.5 million, including fees) to the sled used in Citizen Kane (sold for $14.75 million), there are other pieces that have surpassed the seven figures, and are now in the hands of mysterious millionaires.

Those movies were made almost 100 years ago, so perhaps a lightsaber will be worth much more in future decades. A suit like Iron Man’s or Thor’s hammer could also become long-lost collectors pieces for the next generation – or maybe by then the idea of owning something physical from a movie will seem ridiculous in an increasingly digital world. Time does well for iconic props used in everyone’s favorite movies, so let’s hope there will always be a place for physical collectibles, and not everything turns digital in the near future.