Lost 'Star Wars' X-Wing Fighter Sells For Record $3.1 Million At Auction

A 20-inch model of the X-wing starfighter, which was originally used in the climactic space battle of the 1977 film Star Wars, has been sold for a record-breaking $3.135 million at a Heritage Auction in Dallas. This particular X-wing, known as the "Red Leader" or "Red One," was part of the late Greg Jein's collection and was discovered in his garage after being believed lost for decades.

Built by Industrial Light & Magic for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, this X-wing model is one of only four "hero" filming miniatures that featured articulating servo-controlled wings and lights. Hero models were specifically crafted for close-up shots and were utilized in the final battle scenes, including the iconic trench run.

During the move of Industrial Light & Magic from California's San Fernando Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1978, some models went missing, and the whereabouts of this particular X-wing remained a mystery. However, recently, a few visual effects professionals, including Kozicki, stumbled upon the model while assisting Jein's family in cataloging his collection. The discovery of this X-wing model was akin to finding a mythical "white whale" in the Star Wars universe.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter