Entertainment · Film · 6 hrs ago
Darth Vader’s screen-used lightsaber sells for $4.875 million
Darth Vader’s screen-used lightsaber sold for $4.875 million at a Heritage Auctions sale on Thursday.
The prop was used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, including the duel where Vader tells Luke Skywalker, “I am your father.”
The sale took place at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction; accounts differ on its location, naming Dallas, Texas, and London, Britain.
The price was far above the auctioneers’ estimate of at least $1 million.
Heritage Auctions said it set a world auction record for a Star Wars collectible and a record for an on-screen Star Wars prop.
It surpassed the previous record, set in July when Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and severed-hand effects rig sold for $3.75 million.
The auction also offered 27 other lightsaber props and items including a Boba Fett blaster and a Yoda puppet hand.
Darth Vader’s screen-used lightsaber sold for $4.875 million at Heritage Auctions’ Ultimate Star Wars Auction.
The prop was used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Heritage Auctions said the sale set a world auction record for a Star Wars collectible and a screen-used Star Wars prop.
The lightsaber had a pre-auction estimate of $1 million or more.
Reports differ on the auction’s location, identifying it as Dallas, Texas, or London, Britain.
- Who
- The buyer was not identified.
- What
- Darth Vader’s screen-used lightsaber sold for $4.875 million.
- When
- Thursday, November 12, 2026, according to the reports.
- Where
- Sources disagree: TASS says Dallas, Texas; SCMP says London, Britain. Other reports do not specify a location.
- Why
- It was sold at Heritage Auctions’ Ultimate Star Wars Auction; the buyer’s reason for purchasing it was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and severed hand-effects rig sold for $3.75 million, according to the reports.
The lightsaber had a pre-auction estimate of $1 million or more.
Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for $4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction.
- Sale price
- $4.875 million
- Auction house
- Heritage Auctions
- Auction
- Ultimate Star Wars Auction
- Films
- The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi
- Previous record sale
- Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and severed hand-effects rig: $3.75 million
- Auction location
- Reports identify Dallas, Texas, and London, Britain.
4 sources
Darth Vader’s lightsaber, used in Star Wars movies The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, sells for nearly $5m
Darth Vader’s lightsaber goes under hammer for record $4.875 million
Darth Vader’s lightsaber from iconic ‘Star Wars’ duel sells for nearly $5-million
Darth Vader’s lightsaber used in ‘I am your father’ duel sells for nearly US$5 million
What people are saying
It’s the one on the set.
It’s from the most iconic sequence of the entire franchise.
Darth Vader’s screen-matched hero dueling lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for $4.875 million at Heritage Auctions, setting a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible