Rosebud, Iconic Sled From ‘Citizen Kane,’ Sells for $14.75 Million at Auction

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The iconic red sled, famously named Rosebud in the 1941 film masterpiece “Citizen Kane” by Orson Welles, was recently sold at an auction for a staggering sum of $14.75 million.

The vintage pine hardwood prop, still retaining its original paint and showing signs of wear from use during production, possibly minus rails used for scrap drives during wartime, has been in the possession of director Joe Dante since 1984. During his time directing ‘Explorers’ (1985), this prop was given to him by someone cleaning out a part of the Paramount lot that previously housed RKO Pictures.

Or, more concisely:

A worn pine hardwood prop, originally painted and possibly missing rails from wartime scrap drives, has been with director Joe Dante since 1984. He received it while working on ‘Explorers’ (1985) from someone clearing out the Paramount lot that once belonged to RKO Pictures.

During a recent conversation, one team member who recognized my affection for old movies approached me with an old wooden prop and mentioned, ‘We’re getting rid of everything like this. You might find it interesting,'” Dante reminisced. “Perhaps he wasn’t fully aware of what the sled was, but somehow, he sensed or suspected something, or else he wouldn’t have offered it to me.

“I was astonished. Since I am a huge fan of the movie, I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll be glad to take it.’”

Scientific testing has confirmed its authenticity.

For many years, I’ve been privileged to safeguard this significant piece of film history,” Dante stated through Heritage. “Watching Rosebud secure a new residence – while also creating history in the process – feels both unreal and immensely satisfying. It underscores the timeless influence of storytelling.

Following the auction of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) for approximately $32.5 million in December, these slippers now rank as the second most expensive movie memorabilia ever sold, according to Heritage Auctions. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed, with the final price including a premium.

During his tenure, Dante included the sled in movies such as Explorers, The ‘Burbs (1989), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), and an episode of the NBC series Eerie, Indiana (1991-93) that he himself directed.

In 1982, one of the three actual sleds used in RKO’s “Citizen Kane” was purchased by Steven Spielberg, who was then Dante’s mentor, for a price of $60,500. Another one sold to an unidentified buyer in 1996 for $233,000. The auction house mentioned that not many were made for the film.

On Wednesday, amidst the bustling second day of Heritage’s Entertainment auction, I was thrilled to witness the sale of Dante’s legendary sled. This auction extends until Friday. Earlier in the day, a captivating painting by Bob Peak, which was the original key artwork for ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979), fetched an impressive $687,500.

Among the items available for purchase are tablets inscribed from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 film “The Ten Commandments”, Luke Skywalker’s Red Five X-wing aircraft from “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), and a bullwhip used in “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade” (1989).

Not only is this Entertainment event unprecedented in our history, but it’s also significant on a grand scale within the context of Entertainment auctions,” said Heritage executive vice president Joe Maddalena. “These items aren’t mere props; they are legendary artifacts. They embody Hollywood’s most iconic moments, each one contributing to the narrative, associated with a memory, a performance, or a legend. It is an honor for us to make these priceless pieces accessible to fans, collectors, and institutions that will safeguard them for future generations.

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2025-07-17 03:54