Famed Darth Vader light saber sells for almost $5 million at auction

November 13, 2026 / 6:39 AM EST / AP

A light saber used by Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" movies "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" sold Thursday for nearly $5 million in an auction.

The light saber, which was used in the climactic duel in Cloud City in which Vader tells Luke Skywalker "I am your father" sold for $4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by Heritage Auctions. The sale marks a world auction record for any "Star Wars" collectible, according to the auction house.

The sale also established a new auction record for a screen-used "Star Wars" prop, according to the auction organizer, shooting past its $3.75 million July auction sale of Skywalker's light saber and severed hand-effects rig from "The Empire Strikes Back."

Heritage's Thursday auction also featured material from "Star Wars" Episodes I through IX and additional films and TV shows. In addition to Vader's light saber, 27 other "Star Wars" light sabers were assembled for public auction, according to Heritage Auctions.

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/