A Star Wars R2-D2 droid used in several films of the franchise was sold at an auction for nearly $3 million USD.
Profiles in History, the California-based auction house, said the 43-inch tall unit that was compiled from parts used throughout filming the original trilogy, kind of like a Frankenstein of droids, sold for $2.76 million at an auction on Wednesday, surpassing the sum they had initially estimated it could fetch.
Other Star Wars props up for sale included Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from the first two movies, sold for $450,000, and Darth Vader’s helmet from the original film, sold for $96,000. Nonetheless, the R2-D2 was by far the most expensive item offered in the movie memorabilia auction—and probably the most expensive single piece of Star Wars memorabilia ever sold.
There’s still no information about who purchased the droid, but whoever it is, they got a movie prop like no other, the crème de la crème of movie props. According to the auction house, there is no other known complete original R2 unit in the public domain.
Other space-themed film and television items were also for sale, including a 23 ships collection from Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers, sold for $1.8 million. A helmet worn by late actor Bill Paxton on the set of Aliens sold for $51,000.
The force was strong in this auction!
