USA, July 16, 2026
A lightsaber from the "Star Wars" film series has been auctioned in the USA for $3.75 million (approximately 3.3 million euros).
The prop originated from the 1980 film "The Empire Strikes Back" and was used in the duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. According to the auction house Heritage Auctions, the winning bid was placed by a bidder whose identity was not disclosed. "Wer die berühmte Requisite erstanden hat, wollte eine Sprecherin auf Anfrage nicht verraten," the auction house added.
Origin and History of the Prop
In the showdown, the villain cuts off his right hand. The lightsaber now auctioned is attached to a prosthetic hand that was used during filming. The minimum bid was one million dollars; in the end, the hammer fell at $3.75 million — many times the starting price.
The prop came from make-up artist Stuart Freeborn, who passed away in 2013 and had designed numerous "Star Wars" characters. According to the auction house, the lightsaber was offered publicly for the first time from a private collection. This marked the first time the piece officially changed hands through a public auction.
Actor Mark Hamill, in his role as Luke Skywalker, wielded the weapon in a legendary duel with Darth Vader. This moment ranks among the most famous scenes in film history. The sword is one of the iconic props in cinema history.