As Wicked continues to dominate the box office, the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland’s Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz just sold for a whopping $32.5 million at auction. The iconic pair of shoes is now the most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold, supplanting Marilyn Monroe’s white halter dress from The Seven Year Itch.
While it’s a bit unfair to compare our idea of a “grail” to one of the most significant pieces of Hollywood memorabilia ever, the sale far outdoes anything we’ve seen in the sneaker world. For context; Michael Jordan’s “Dynasty Collection,” which consists of six game-worn Air Jordans pulled from each of his championship-clinching games, was sold for $8 million in February 2024.
The ruby slippers sale occurs at a time rife with Wizard Of Oz-mania, with all kinds of companies looking to capitalize on the success of Wicked one way or another; Nike being no small exception. The Beaverton brand plans to release Wizard Of Oz SB Dunks on December 23rd, taking inspiration from Dorothy’s iconic slippers among other movie touchpoints.
Lead image via Heritage Auctions/Hollywood Entertainment.