In 2025, a pine hardwood prop famously known by this name sold at auction for $14.75 million
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Jeopardy! presented its Final Jeopardy clue in the category 20th Century Movie Memorabilia. The clue read: “In 2025, a pine hardwood prop famously known by this name sold at auction for $14.75 million.”
What is the Rosebud sled?
The answer to the Final Jeopardy clue — What is the Rosebud sled? — refers to an iconic prop from the film Citizen Kane. This sled appears in the opening and closing sequences of the movie as a symbolic object tied to the main character’s childhood and emotional history. The term “Rosebud” itself became culturally synonymous with the film’s theme of memory and loss.
In July 2025, one of the surviving sleds used in the making of Citizen Kane was offered at Heritage Auctions. Crafted of pine hardwood and painted with a red seat bearing the stenciled word “ROSEBUD,” the item sold for a total of $14.75 million. This placed the sled among the highest-value pieces of movie memorabilia ever sold at public auction.
Historical Significance of the “Rosebud” Sled
The sled’s importance stems from its role in Citizen Kane, widely regarded as one of the most influential films in American cinema. Directed by and starring Orson Welles, the story follows the life of media magnate Charles Foster Kane. The narrative structure opens on Kane’s deathbed, where his final utterance is the word “Rosebud.” Much of the film unfolds as a reporter seeks to understand the meaning of that word, ultimately revealing it to be the name of Kane’s childhood sled.
Because the sled represents Kane’s lost childhood innocence and unsatisfied emotional needs, it has endured as a powerful symbol within film history. Over time, surviving sleds from the production became coveted items for collectors and institutions interested in Hollywood’s cultural legacy.
The 2025 Auction and Provenance
The sled that sold for $14.75 million in 2025 had a distinct provenance that added to its value. It had been part of the personal collection of filmmaker Joe Dante, who acquired it in 1984 while working on another production on the former RKO Pictures studio lot. A crew member offered the sled to Dante during a clearance of old storage areas, and he preserved it for decades.
Before the sale, experts conducted scientific tests to help confirm the artifact’s authenticity, including radiocarbon dating and microscopic analysis of the wood. The auction house’s catalog noted that few of the props used in Citizen Kane survived, making this pine hardwood example especially rare among known pieces.
Legacy in the Auction Market
The 2025 sale of the Rosebud sled underscored the continued interest and high valuations for iconic film memorabilia. With its final price of $14.75 million, the sled became one of the most valuable cinematic props ever sold at auction, surpassed in value only by items like the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
Collectors and institutions alike prize such artifacts not only for their tangible connection to film history but also for the stories they embody. The sale of the Rosebud sled demonstrates the enduring cultural resonance of Citizen Kane and the ongoing demand for significant pieces of movie history among global collectors.