Alexis Ohanian (L) and Serena Williams (Image source: Getty)
Serena Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has shared his thoughts on a historic moment in film memorabilia. The ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in the 1939 classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’ fetched an astonishing $32.5 million at auction, shattering records as the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold.
The ruby slippers, immortalized in one of the most beloved films, symbolize Hollywood’s golden era. Garland’s Dorothy famously tapped the heels of these sparkling shoes while uttering the now-iconic line, “There’s no place like home.”
Of the four pairs known to have survived the 1939 production, the auctioned pair has a dramatic history. Stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005, it was recovered by the FBI in 2018, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to its legacy. Heritage Auctions revealed that the final price including commissions was nearly 11 times the pre-auction estimate of $3 million.
Ohanian, an avid memorabilia enthusiast, took to X (formerly Twitter) on December 7, 2024, to share his thoughts on the ruby slippers’ impact on pop culture:
“Given the role it played in color film, they were already iconic, and then the big heist only made them more compelling.”
A follower drew parallels to the Mona Lisa, noting how a theft incident helped propel the painting to unparalleled fame. Alexis Ohanian responded by quoting one of his tweets that read:
“It’s so funny to see the Mona Lisa listed as a collectible. 100 years ago, it was nothing before it gained meme status from the culture. That’s why I preach on the power of community—it’s everything—and why sports is SO valuable.”
“YES! Not enough people know this!!,” he replied to the follower.
The film, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s beloved children’s novel, introduced audiences to a whimsical land filled with memorable characters and timeless songs. Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy Gale and her journey along the Yellow Brick Road with the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow remains an indelible part of Hollywood lore.
Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian gave a tour of his “most prized collectibles” earlier this year
Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian during the Business of Women Sports Summit (Image source: Getty)
In February 2024, Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian teamed up with the collector community page On Mantel to showcase prized items from his collection in an Instagram video. A passionate collector, he revealed a rare Serena Williams rookie card, an NES Play Action Football game, a Magic card, and a life-size Iron Man statue, which he called the “best thing” in his office:
“I have been collecting things since I was a kid. This is a soccer ball from the inaugural season of my team, Angel City FC. This is one of the best Serena Williams rookie cards ever. In fact, I think it is legitimately the best one. There’s a grated copy of NES Play Action Football, which was the first video game I ever got. I played the hell out of it; I didn’t even have an NFL license. But didn’t matter.
And I was gifted this magic card, it’s not real, but it was a really nice token of appreciation from one of our founders. And then finally, this is the best thing in my office, which is the Iron Man Mark 85. It’s a life-size sculpture of the one and only Tony Stark.”
Ohanian is passionate about collecting rare items, from trading cards and antique sculptures to vintage games and a megalodon tooth. His seven-year-old daughter, Olympia, also enjoys collecting sports trading cards. In September 2023, Ohanian expressed his excitement about her joining the hobby.
