In 1980, a young man bought an axe for six dollars.
For many decades, he used it to chop wood.
Then, in 2019, he sold it — for $217,000.
Uh, what? Why did an old axe sell for two-hundred-thousand dollars?
Today, I’ll explain everything — including how to get in on this action yourself.
You’ve Probably Seen This Axe
To kick things off here — this was no ordinary axe.
Before it was used to chop wood, it was used to chop down a door.
Here’s a picture of it in action:
That’s right: this was the axe used by Jack Nicholson in the horror movie, “The Shining.”
After shooting finished, a crew member on the film bought it for $6.
The thing is, “The Shining” went on to become a classic. And the axe became one of the most famous props in movie history.
That’s why it sold for a whopping $217,226 at auction.
Buying a Piece of Hollywood? It’ll Cost You
Movie props have a long history of fetching high prices:
- Steve McQueen’s suit from the 1971 action film “Le Mans” sold for $336,000.
- Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from “Star Wars” sold for $450,000.
- And the dance floor from “Saturday Night Fever” sold for $1.2 million.
Julie Andrews’ dress from “The Sound of Music,” Audrey Hepburn’s dress from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Sam’s piano from “Casablanca” — each of these pieces of movie memorabilia sold for six or even seven figures.
Prop Art: Nostalgia, Intrigue, and Profits
There are a few main reasons such items are so sought after.
First, props can carry cultural significance and nostalgia.
Second, they can be intriguing and cool — from cars and clothes, to weapons and gadgets.
And lastly, they can turn into wildly profitable investments!
Movie props are part of the global market for collectibles, which is projected to reach $550 billion by 2028. And their values have been soaring recently:
- Superman’s costume, worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 film, was worth $20,000 in 2005. In 2022, it sold for $350,000 — an annual growth rate of 25%.
- The helmet worn by Darth Vader in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” was worth $117,000 in 2003. By 2020, it was worth $3.6 million. That’s a growth rate of 68%.
- Will Ferrell’s costume in “Elf” was worth $7,600 in 2003. In 2021, it sold for close to $400,000. That translates to annual returns of more than 70%.
Clearly, movie props can potentially be worthwhile investments.
But wait until you hear this next story…
The Most Famous Shoes in Movie History
These might be the most famous shoes in movie history:
The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz.”
In 2005, a mobster named Terry Jon Martin stole them from the Judy Garland Museum. He thought they contained real rubies because they’d been insured for a million dollars.
But Martin was caught, and in 2018, the FBI finally recovered the slippers.
Last week, they were auctioned off. And they just sold for — get this — $32.5 million!
Interested in getting into movie props, but at a lower cost? You’ve got options…
Invest in Collectibles — Starting at Just $100
Recently, a new type of website has emerged to give ordinary people the ability to invest small amounts of money into collectibles.
Essentially, just like you can buy a $100 stake in a startup, now you can buy $100 worth of a vintage bottle of wine, a classic work of art, or a piece of movie memorabilia.
One such website is called Rally. Rally features everything from rare whiskeys to comic books and cars. You can purchase shares in a 1977 Lotus Esprit — like the one used in James Bond’s “The Spy Who Loved Me” — or collector’s items from “Star Wars.”
And on Public, you’ll find collectibles like rare sneakers, investment-grade art, and 1st-edition trading cards.
Before You Dive in
Just keep in mind that all the typical caveats about investing apply here.
For example, don’t invest more than you can afford to lose, and be sure to dip your toe into the water before diving in.
Furthermore, many of these types of investments aren’t entirely “liquid.” That means they can’t necessarily be converted into cash at the snap of your fingers.
So please don’t invest your rent or grocery money into these offerings.
But if you’re looking to invest in collectibles — or a piece of movie history — this could be a worthwhile avenue to explore.
Happy investing!
Best Regards,
Editor
Crowdability.com
