Darth Vader Lightsaber Sells for Record $4.875 Million

Heritage Auctions sold a lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi for $4.875 million on Thursday. The sale, part of the Ultimate Star Wars auction in the United States, established a new world auction record for both screen-used Star Wars props and Star Wars collectibles.

The prop was used during the Cloud City sequence where Darth Vader reveals his identity as Luke Skywalker's father. This price surpassed the previous record of $3.75 million set in July for Luke Skywalker's lightsaber and severed hand. Brian Chanes, senior director of Hollywood and entertainment at Heritage Auctions, described the item as being from the most iconic sequence of the entire franchise.

The auction featured 27 other lightsabers, including props used by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge of the Sith. Other high-profile items included a Yoda puppet hand and a Boba Fett blaster.