A Star Wars superfan made history after dropping a huge bag for Darth Vader’s original lightsaber, wielded by the late David Prowse during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
According to multiple reports, the fan shelled out $3.6 million for the screen-matched prop, which is the same saber seen in the legendary “No, I am your father” scene from Empire, when Luke Skywalker discovers his true lineage. The anonymous buyer claimed the weapon during a high-profile auction hosted by Propstore in Los Angeles, where hundreds of Hollywood memorabilia items went under the hammer. The sale set a new record for the highest amount ever paid for a Star Wars prop.
While James Earl Jones gave Darth Vader his menacing voice, Prowse was the man behind the mask in the original trilogy. The lightsaber itself shows battle scars from its time on set, with chips and cracks still visible from filming. It was also used in select fight sequences by stunt double Bob Anderson.
For Star Wars fans, the prop represents one of the franchise’s most iconic artifacts. It now belongs to a collector who just paid more than the budget of the original 1977 Star Wars to own a piece of sci-fi movie history.
Released in 1980, The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels ever made, cementing Darth Vader as one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Three years later, Return of the Jedi wrapped up George Lucas’ original trilogy with the redemption of Anakin Skywalker, the fall of the Empire, and the saga’s first climactic end.