Vader's Light Saber Sells for $4.875 Million
Heritage Auctions' Ultimate Star Wars Auction set a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Science Fiction
Darth Vader's light saber, used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, sold for $4.875 million at a Heritage Auctions event. The sale set a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible and a new record for a screen-used Star Wars prop.
Why it matters
The result surpasses the previous record of $3.75 million set by a July auction sale of Skywalker's light saber and severed hand-effects rig from The Empire Strikes Back. It signals strong collector demand for original screen-used props from the franchise.
The $4.875 million sale exceeds the previous Star Wars auction high of $3.75 million set in July. The source does not report the buyer or the total revenue across the event's 27 other assembled light sabers.
The players
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is a Dallas-based auction house that conducts sales of collectibles, including entertainment memorabilia.
The details
The light saber was sold at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction, which featured material from Star Wars Episodes I through IX and other films and TV shows. The Cloud City duel, where Vader tells Luke Skywalker "I am your father," is among the scenes in which the prop appeared.
Timeline
Prior year, July: Skywalker's light saber and hand-effects rig sold for $3.75 million.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: The Ultimate Star Wars Auction sold Vader's light saber.
Industry Dynamics
The sale continues a pattern of high-value auctions for screen-used film props, following the July record for Skywalker's light saber. It shows collectors paying premium prices for original Star Wars production items as the franchise's memorabilia market grows.
Collectors seeking Star Wars memorabilia now have a benchmark for high-end screen-used props, though the source does not indicate whether the item will be displayed publicly. Fans without auction budgets can still follow future sales through the auction house.
The takeaway
Screen-used props from major franchises are increasingly valued as high-end collectibles, with prices rising sharply from one sale to the next. Collectors tracking this market should watch auction results closely.
Further reading
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