Darth Vader lightsaber goes for more than $3.6M at auction

The iconic prop was used in 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi.'

A lucky buyer now knows the power of the dark side, having become the owner of a lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The iconic Star Wars prop was sold at an auction on Thursday, fetching more than US$3.6 million.

It had been estimated that the iconic movie prop would sell for between $1 million and $3 million, according to the auction website Propstore, where interested buyers could place their bids.

There were 31 bids in total for Darth Vader’s lightsaber, and the winning one was placed at $3,654,000.

“Wielded by both David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson, this is the primary dueling prop created for Vader’s character in both Empire and Jedi. It saw extensive use during the filming of both movies and is one of the most memorable film props from the original trilogy,” the description on the website reads.

The prop is reportedly the only lightsaber from the original Star Wars trilogy ever to hit the auction block.

“The result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. 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,” Brandon Alinger, Propstore COO, told Variety.

“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,” he added.