The only known C-3PO head from The Empire Strikes Back to ever reach the collector market just sold for $1,058,400 at Propstore’s Los Angeles auction — comfortably clearing its high estimate of $700,000 and proving that a galaxy far, far away remains very close to collectors’ wallets.

The light-up prop, which appeared in the 1980 film, was the star lot of the Spring Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. It joins a growing club of Star Wars artifacts commanding seven figures: last year, Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for a record $3.6 million, and a Boba Fett action figure fetched $1.34 million in 2024.

But the golden protocol droid wasn’t the only relic finding a new home. The auction’s first day pulled in $6.5 million total, with Robert Shaw’s harpoon gun from Jaws spearing $327,600 and his screen-matched fishing rod reeling in $239,400 — a strong showing timed to the film’s 50th anniversary year.

Wilson, Tom Hanks’s silent co-star in Cast Away, exceeded expectations at $189,000. The Shards of Narsil from The Lord of the Rings fetched $252,000. Even a golden ticket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory found a buyer at $107,100.

“Star Wars material continues to resonate with collectors, and the C-3PO head from The Empire Strikes Back was a real highlight of the day,” said Brandon Alinger, Propstore’s COO.

The head’s new owner now possesses the only known C-3PO head ever to reach the collector market — a fragment of cinema history that, fittingly, arrives without the rest of the body attached.

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