Luke Skywalker's 'The Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber breaks Star Wars record at auction

Published on 21/07/2026 - 15:45 GMT+2

The iconic lightsaber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back has broken Star Wars auction records.

Heritage Auctions announced that the cinema prop, used onscreen by Mark Hamill in the climactic Cloud City fight where Darth Vader reveals “I am your father”, sold for whopping $3.75 million (approx. €3.29m) during its Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction.

“This is one of the most important surviving Star Wars artifacts in existence,” explained Heritage executive VP Joe Maddalena.

“It comes from the emotional climax of The Empire Strikes Back - the scene that forever changed the saga and produced one of the most unforgettable moments in movie history. Collectors understood that they were bidding on much more than a prop. They were competing for a genuine piece of modern mythology.”

The lightsaber has become the most expensive piece of screen-used memorabilia sold from a Star Wars film.

The previous record was held by an original 20-inch model of an X-wing starfighter used in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which sold for $3.135 million (approx. €2.75m) in October 2023.

The top record holder in the Star Wars artwork category remains Tom Jung’s original half-sheet key poster painting for A New Hope. It was sold last year for $3.875 million (approx. €3.39m).

"This auction showcased the incredible momentum in entertainment collecting, with passionate engagement from fans across every corner of pop culture," Maddalena added.

"Children of the 1970s and ’80s who grew up on Jaws and Star Wars are now leading the charge, driving prices higher as they seek to reconnect with the films that shaped their lives."