If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a piece of cinematic history, you’re in luck—Judy Garland’s iconic ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz are officially up for auction, shining with sequins, beaded sparkle, and one unforgettable backstory.
Nearly twenty years ago, these slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in a wild heist. Convinced the shoes were adorned with real jewels, 76-year-old Terry Jon Martin smashed through the display case, hoping for a “last score.”
Little did he know, they’d become one of the most infamous missing artifacts in Hollywood history.
The slippers remained out of sight until 2018, when the FBI recovered them after a mysterious tip, marking the end of a 13-year quest to find them.
Now, Michael Shaw, the collector who originally owned the shoes, has put them up for auction with Heritage Auctions in Dallas, and fans worldwide are lining up to make a bid. Online bidding opened this week and runs through December 7, with the Judy Garland Museum itself among the bidders hoping to bring the shoes back home for good.
These slippers aren’t just any old movie prop; they’re one of only four pairs Garland wore while skipping down the yellow brick road in the beloved 1939 film.
To keep up with the bidding frenzy, Grand Rapids even held a fundraiser at their annual Judy Garland festival, adding to the $100,000 recently set aside by Minnesota lawmakers to buy back the iconic shoes.
The auction offers more than just the ruby slippers—other items include Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch hat and Dorothy’s Kansas screen door. But, no doubt, the ruby slippers are the showstopper. After decades of mystery, a run-in with the FBI, and one botched heist, they’re ready to sparkle again, maybe on display for fans to marvel at for generations.
