The lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back sold for $4.875 million at Heritage Auctions on November 12, U.S. time, setting a record for Star Wars collectibles. The same lightsaber had sold for $3.654 million at Propstore in September 2025, meaning it fetched $1.221 million more just 14 months later. (Previously: Want to get your hands on Jensen Huang’s iconic leather jacket? Sotheby’s holds charity auction and reveals estimate) (More background: Taiwanese influencer Zun buys an original “Beast Senpai” VHS tape for 700,000 yen; Japanese netizens call it a national treasure) Key takeaways Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for $4.875 million on November 12, setting a Star Wars record It beat the previous record, held by an original Star Wars poster artwork that sold for $3.875 million, by $1 million The same lightsaber sold for $3.654 million in September 2025, a 33% increase in 14 months U.S. auction house Heritage Auctions held a dedicated Star Wars auction in Dallas on November 12 (Thursday), U.S. time. A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the film The Empire Strikes Back sold for $4.875 million (approximately NT$160 million), setting a new world auction record for Star Wars collectibles. The buyer bid by phone during the auction, and their identity has not been disclosed. The item had an opening bid of $1 million and ultimately sold for about 4.9 times that amount. The lightsaber appeared in the Cloud City duel in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. In the scene, Darth Vader cuts off Luke Skywalker’s hand and then says, “I am your father.” Three years later, the two face off again in the Emperor’s throne room in Return of the Jedi, and the same prop was used in that scene as well. Heritage described it as Darth Vader’s “primary dueling lightsaber.” Actor David Prowse and his stunt double, former Olympic fencer Bob Anderson, both used it in fight scenes. The catalog also notes that it may have appeared in the first film, released in 1977, though this cannot be confirmed. The lightsaber was made by modifying a 1950s British M.P.P. Microflash camera flash. It has seven black plastic grips and calculator buttons added to it, and measures 12.5 inches (about 32 cm) in total length. Only the hilt was auctioned; the blade was not included. The hilt has scratches and a crack, part of the upper shroud is missing, and one section of the grip is broken. The auction catalog says this damage is consistent with how the prop would have been used during the filming of the duel scenes. The lightsaber accounted for two-thirds of the auction’s $7.348 million total The “Ultimate Star Wars Auction” featured nearly 200 props and pieces of production art. In addition to Darth Vader’s lightsaber, 27 other lightsabers went under the hammer. According to Pirates & Princesses, citing Heritage’s auction page, the auction totaled $7.348 million, with Darth Vader’s lightsaber alone accounting for about 66%. Among the other lightsabers, the ones used by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace and Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith fetched the highest prices. CNN reported that each sold for $162,500. Boba Fett’s rifle from The Empire Strikes Back sold for $375,000. A filming miniature of a snowspeeder that once belonged to Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, sold for $200,000. Frequently asked questions How much did Darth Vader’s lightsaber sell for? Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for $4.875 million at Heritage Auctions on November 12, approximately NT$160 million. It had an opening bid of $1 million, and the buyer, who bid by phone, has not been identified. What is the most expensive collectible ever sold at a Star Wars auction? The current record is Darth Vader’s lightsaber at $4.875 million. The previous record was $3.875 million for Tom Jung’s original poster artwork, while the previous record for a prop was $3.75 million for Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber together with a severed-hand prop. Related stories Disney’s unprecedented partnership with TikTok: Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars IP opened up to short-form video creators One card sells eight times a month: TCG on-chain turns childhood collectibles into a get-rich-quick gambling table Lincoln’s abolition of slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment, to be auctioned with an $8 million estimate—could it spark another round of decentralized DAO fundraising? This article, “Darth Vader’s lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back sells for $4.875 million, breaking Star Wars auction record,” was originally published on BlockTempo (動區動趨—The most influential blockchain news media).