Iconic 'ruby slippers' auctioned for $28 mn

Slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz were auctioned nearly 20 years after they were robbed

Nearly two decades after a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz were stolen from a Minnesota museum, the iconic shoes were auctioned off on Saturday.

Heritage Auctions had estimated the slippers would fetch $3 million or more.

But on Saturday, the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes.

A few bidders making offers by phone volleyed back and forth for 15 minutes as the price climbed to the final, eye-popping sum.

Including the Dallas-based auction house's fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay USD 32.5 million.

Online bidding, which opened last month, had stood at USD 1.55 million before live bidding began late Saturday afternoon.

The sparkly red heels were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum's door and display case.