The $32 Million Ruby Slipper Heist

Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, later authenticated by the Smithsonian as the mismatched "twins" to the pair in their own national collection.The thief, Terry Jon Martin, admitted to the heist thinking the sequins were genuine rubies but discarded the shoes after a "fence" informed him they were merely glass beads and sequins.Following a 2024 world tour, the slippers sold at Heritage Auctions for a record $32.5 million, officially becoming the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.