Darth Vader's lightsaber fetches record-breaking $3.6M at auction

article

Darth Vader's lightsaber sold for a record $3.65 million at auction (Propstore via Storyful)

The lightsaber used by Darth Vader in two "Star Wars" films sold for a whopping $3.65 million at an auction in Los Angeles Thursday. 

According to Propstore, a memorabilia auction house, the iconic lightsaber was sold on the first day of the Los Angeles Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. 

Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold

Propstore says the lightsaber is the only one from the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi "with verifiable screen use ever to be offered at public auction." It’s now the highest-priced Star Wars item to ever be sold at auction.

What they're saying:

"To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special," Brandon Alinger, COO of Propstore, said in a statement. 

RELATED: A ride on the Goodyear Blimp is up for auction

By the numbers:

The lightsaber was among 433 "rare and remarkable" film and TV items up for sale. Other items include Harrison Ford’s bullwhip from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower from "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," and a Platform 9 3/4 sign from the "Harry Potter" films, according to Storyful. 

Bidders paid a total of $14.3 million for items bought on Day 1 of the auction, the auction house said in a press release.

Dig deeper:

The lightsaber was sold alongside 433 "rare and remarkable" film and television items, including Harrison Ford’s bullwhip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and a Platform 9 3/4 sign from the Harry Potter films.

What's next:

The auction continues Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6.