Star Wars Prop Auction Record
Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber Prop, Including Severed Hand, Sells for Record $3.75 Million at Auction
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A lightsaber prop from 'The Empire Strikes Back' — complete with Luke Skywalker's severed hand still attached — sold for $3.75 million at Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, setting a new record for any 'Star Wars' film prop ever sold at auction, according to WBAL-TV.
The prop came from the 1980 film's climactic Cloud City duel, where Darth Vader cuts off Luke's hand and delivers the iconic line 'I am your father.' Both the buyer and seller were not identified, Boston Herald reported.
The Prop Behind the Most Iconic Twist in Film History
The lightsaber is tied directly to one of cinema's most famous moments. In the film, Vader slices off Luke's hand during their battle high above Cloud City. The prop includes a mechanical severed hand and wrist, making it a rare, one-of-a-kind piece of 'Star Wars' history, NBC 5 reported.
Heritage Auctions held the sale in Los Angeles. The $3.75 million price tag beats every other 'Star Wars' prop ever put up for sale. The auction house did not release details about who consigned or purchased the item, according to Press Telegram.
Other Blockbuster Props Also Commanded Big Prices
The 'Star Wars' lightsaber was not the only major item to sell big. A hat worn by Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz' sold for $550,000. A cocoa-colored top hat from the 1971 film 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' fetched $350,000, KETV reported.
Fans of 'Game of Thrones' also had reason to take notice. Daenerys Targaryen's chest with dragon eggs inside sold for $312,500 at the same auction, according to Twin Cities.
Hollywood Memorabilia Market Keeps Breaking Records
The sale shows just how much collectors will pay for a piece of movie history. Film props tied to iconic scenes — especially from beloved franchises — have driven auction prices sharply higher in recent years. The 'Star Wars' brand in particular carries enormous cultural weight, making its props among the most sought-after in the world.
Heritage Auctions is one of the largest auction houses in the United States. It regularly handles high-value entertainment memorabilia. The Los Angeles sale drew strong interest across multiple film franchises, from classic Hollywood to modern blockbusters, Greeley Tribune noted.
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