The 5 Most Expensive Film Props Ever Sold (#1 Will Never Be Beaten)

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Collecting is a popular hobby, and that’s especially true when it comes to items from movies, TV shows, and other parts of pop culture. Many fans enjoy collecting things like action figures, trading cards, and comic books, and they’re often happy to spend money to get something they really want. Some collectors focus on even more specific items, like props used in films. There’s a special appeal to owning a piece of movie history – something that was actually on screen or used during production. While smaller props and costumes can often be found at reasonable prices through sales and auctions, iconic items can be incredibly expensive, with the most famous props fetching the highest prices.

These are the five priciest movie props ever auctioned off. We’re not talking about everyday set pieces—think major items from famous films that have sold for millions. In fact, the most expensive prop sold has set a record that might never be broken.

5) Marilyn Monroe’s White “Subway” Dress from The Seven Year Itch

Marilyn Monroe’s white dress from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch is instantly recognizable. Designed by William Travilla, it’s featured in one of the most famous movie scenes ever filmed. In it, Monroe’s character walks down a New York street, and as a subway train passes beneath a grate, the dress is blown upwards, playfully revealing her legs. She famously asks, “Ooh, do you feel the breeze from the subway?”

The dress, like Marilyn Monroe herself, is a legendary piece of movie history, so it attracted a lot of attention when it was auctioned in 2011. While experts predicted a sale price of about $2 million, it actually sold for $4.6 million. This wasn’t the only dress to fetch a high price at the auction, however; a red gown from the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes sold for $1.47 million as well.

4) James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger

James Bond’s cars are famous for fetching high prices at auction, but it’s important to understand their history. There were different versions of the DB5 used: some for actual filming, and others for promotional purposes. A promotional DB5 sold for $6.4 million in 2019. However, the car driven in the movie Goldfinger (DB5/1486/R) sold for $4.6 million back in 2010.

The fascinating thing about the James Bond cars isn’t really how much they sell for, but the story of another DB5 used in the film, DP/2161/1. This car was stolen from its owner in 1997, and it took years to find it – eventually, it was discovered in the Middle East.

3) Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet

Robby the Robot, first seen in the 1956 movie Forbidden Planet, became a famous fixture in science fiction films and TV shows. He’s not only a Hollywood icon, but also holds the record for the most expensive film prop ever sold.

The original Robby the Robot costume has a fascinating past. It was first exhibited at the Movie World/Cars of the Stars Museum in California in 1971, but unfortunately, it was often damaged by visitors and needed repairs. After the museum closed in 1980, the suit was purchased by filmmaker and Forbidden Planet enthusiast William Malone. Most recently, it was sold in November 2017 for an impressive $5.4 million.

2) “Rosebud” Sled from Citizen Kane

Considered a landmark film, Citizen Kane featured a memorable wooden sled that recently became one of the priciest movie props ever sold at auction. Four sleds were created for the 1941 film. One was destroyed during production, another was gifted to a family member of a co-writer, and a third was awarded to a lucky child through a contest run by the studio, RKO, in 1942. The final sled was saved from being thrown away at RKO, purchased by Steven Spielberg, and later donated to the Academy Museum.

Director Joe Dante came across the sled while working on the 1985 film Explorers at the Paramount Studios lot, which used to be RKO Pictures. During a cleanup, the crew discovered the sled and gave it to him. Dante later sold it in 2025 for an impressive $14.75 million. While a significant amount, it’s still far from the most expensive movie prop ever sold.

1) Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz

The ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz have become legendary, with a story almost as captivating as the film itself. They were stolen, but when recovered, it was discovered that this wasn’t the complete pair – the matching shoes are actually on display at the Smithsonian! It’s an unbelievable tale that feels like something out of a crime thriller.

In 2024, the rediscovered ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were sold at auction for an incredible $28 million. This makes them the most expensive movie prop ever sold, and it’s likely to be a very long time before another item from a film fetches a higher price. Whether it was the film’s enduring popularity or the shoes’ famous story, the auction price was truly remarkable.

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2026-04-21 05:41