By VeVe Team · September 5, 2025
The Force has struck again in the world of collecting. At a recent Propstore auction in Los Angeles, the original Darth Vader lightsaber used on-screen in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for a staggering $3,654,000. The piece now stands as the highest-priced Star Wars artifact ever sold at auction, cementing its place in both cinematic and collecting history.
“This result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting,” said Brandon Alinger, COO of Propstore. “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. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”
At first glance, $3.6 million might seem unfathomable for a single prop. But for collectors, this is not about owning a piece of metal and resin. It is about possessing a tangible shard of modern myth. Darth Vader’s lightsaber is not merely a weapon (for a more civilized age). It is a cultural icon that has represented power, redemption, and the eternal struggle between good and evil for generations.
When collectors bid on something like this, they are not only competing for ownership of an artifact. They are competing for connection. The hum of Vader’s blade, the clash against Luke’s saber, the silhouette of that red glow against the darkness, these are memories imprinted on millions. Nostalgia fuels demand, and when the item in question is both scarce and culturally iconic, values soar.
This sale is part of a larger narrative: collecting culture is thriving. And that's especially true for Star Wars collectibles. From rare Star Wars comic books and vintage toys to graded cards (remember the Jedi a la Kurosawa $100k card we talked about?). We are living in a golden age for fandom memorabilia. Each sale like this signals that pop culture collecting is not a niche pursuit. It's a global movement where passion and nostalgia intersect with investment and legacy.
The auction itself underscored that point. Alongside Vader’s lightsaber, Harrison Ford’s bullwhip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade sold for $485,100, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood fetched $346,500. These are not random objects. They are artifacts of storytelling, symbols of cinematic worlds that shaped our imaginations.
The sale of Darth Vader’s lightsaber proves how powerful physical artifacts remain in shaping our cultural imagination. These items are more than props. They are icons that define eras and connect generations. But collecting does not stop with the physical. It evolves alongside technology, creating new ways for fans to engage with the stories they love.
On VeVe, collectors can own premium digital lightsabers and other Star Wars collectibles that are officially licensed by Lucasfilm and capture the same magic of these legendary weapons. Each digital version includes the iconic activation sound and can be placed in augmented reality, bringing the galaxy into your living room. From Luke Skywalker and Yoda to Mace Windu and Ahsoka Tano, VeVe’s Lightsaber Series 1 lets collectors carry their fandom in their pocket, display it in 3D, and share it with a global community.
Dan Crothers, VeVe's COO explains, "At VeVe, we partner directly with leading IPs like Marvel, Disney, DC, and Star Wars to create official, licensed digital collectibles in limited editions. They’re real, verifiable assets backed by blockchain, with proof of ownership and authenticity built in."
The physical world creates the icons, and digital collecting extends their legacy into new dimensions. And while there is not a one-to-one Darth Vader lightsaber on VeVe yet, the beauty of digital collecting is its boundless potential. The platform constantly evolves, surprising collectors with new Star Wars collectibles that continue to bridge nostalgia and innovation.
So why would someone pay $3.6 million for Darth Vader’s lightsaber? Because collecting has never been about the object alone. It is about the story it carries. For decades, lightsabers have been more than props. They are symbols of courage, identity, and destiny. They remind us of the stories that shaped who we are.
That's why this record-breaking sale matters. It is not an isolated event. It is a signal that collecting culture is alive and thriving, fueled by the same passion that has defined fandom for generations.
And as new generations begin their collecting journeys, platforms like VeVe are opening doors. They allow anyone to step into the story, to hold iconic pieces of lore in their hand or through their phone, and to carry them forward in new ways. From screen-used relics to digital showrooms, the future of Star Wars collectibles has never been brighter.
Founded in 2018, VeVe was created for collectors by collectors to bring premium licensed digital collectibles to the mass market. With over 8 million NFTs sold, VeVe is the largest carbon neutral digital collectibles platform, and one of the top grossing Entertainment Apps in the Google Play and Apple stores. #CollectorsAtHeart
