(NewsNation) — Darth Vader’s iconic red lightsaber was sold for over $3.6 million at auction on Thursday, making it the most expensive piece of Star Wars memorabilia ever auctioned off.
The prop sold for $3,654,000 and was one of 433 pieces of rare television and movie memorabilia up for sale during the first day of Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction in LA. Propstore initially estimated the lightsaber to fetch between $1 million and $3 million.
The screen-matched lightsaber was used in duel scenes between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker during the final two installments of the original Star Wars trilogy, “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”
“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.
There is currently no information about who made the purchase.