Famed Darth Vader light saber sells for almost $5 million at auction

November 13, 2026 / 6:39 AM EST / AP Add CBS News on Google A light saber used by Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" movies "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" sold Thursday for nearly $5 million in an auction. The light saber, which was used in the climactic duel in Cloud City in which Vader tells Luke Skywalker "I am your father" sold for $4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by Heritage Auctions. The sale marks a world auction record for any "Star Wars" collectible, according to the auction house. This image released by Heritage Auctions shows a light saber used by the character Darth Vader in the film "The Empire Strikes Back." Heritage Auctions via AP The sale also established a new auction record for a screen-used "Star Wars" prop, according to the auction organizer, shooting past its $3.75 million July auction sale of Skywalker's light saber and severed hand-effects rig from "The Empire Strikes Back." Heritage's Thursday auction also featured material from "Star Wars" Episodes I through IX and additional films and TV shows. In addition to Vader's light saber, 27 other "Star Wars" light sabers were assembled for public auction, according to Heritage Auctions. In: Star Wars