Princess Leia’s 'Star Wars' Bikini Sells at Auction for $175,000! What Carrie Fisher Really Thought of It

Costumes can make or break a movie, and certain outfits remain iconic no matter how long it’s been since the film’s release – Princess Leia’s bikini is no exception. The gold outfit, worn by the late Carrie Fisher, left its mark on viewers (40 years later) and recently sold at an auction for $175,000. Keep reading to find out more about the bikini’s value and why it was controversial at the time of the film. 

Princess Leia’s bikini sells for $175,000 at auction 

Whether or not you’re a fan of the Star Wars franchise, you’ve seen Princess Leia’s bikini. Fisher wore the memorable gold outfit in the 1983 film Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It was displayed at the beginning of the movie when Leia was captured by Jabba the Hutt at his palace on Tatooine and forced to be a slave. 

The costume, which is now seen as one of the most memorable from the film series, was sold on July 26 by Heritage Auctions, a Dallas-based auction house, for $175,000 during their Entertainment portion.   

According to Joe Maddalena, Heritage’s executive vice president, the bikini that sold was one that Fisher wore for screen tests and around the set; however, it didn’t make it into the final cut of the film. It was switched out for a variation that was more comfortable for Fisher. It was not disclosed who the purchaser of the bikini was. 

The bikini sold includes a bikini top, bikini plates, hip rings, an armlet and a bracelet. It ignited a huge bidding war and Maddalena wasn’t surprised that the costume received so much attention.   

“The power of Star Wars proves itself again. These movies are just so impactful,” Maddalena previously told AP News.  

Carrie Fisher wasn’t a fan of the gold ‘Star Wars’ bikini 

When it came to wearing the costume, Fisher told NPR’s “Fresh Air” in a 2016 interview that it wasn’t her choice.  

“When (director George Lucas) showed me the outfit, I thought he was kidding, and it made me very nervous. I had to sit very straight because I couldn’t have lines on my sides, like little creases. No creases were allowed, so I had to sit very, very rigid straight,” Fisher said during the interview. 

Richard Miller tried to make the costume more comfortable 

Richard Miller was a sculptor for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the visual effects company founded by George Lucas, and the designer behind Princess Leia’s bikini. He shared in an interview that he used soft material for the costume so Fisher could move around more freely.  

 “However, she still didn’t like it. I don’t blame her,” said Miller. “I did put leather on the back of it to help it feel better.” 

The ‘Star Wars’ gold bikini received a lot of backlash 

Many people who watched the Star Wars films were unhappy with Princess Leia’s bikini because they believed it sexualized Fisher and her character for the male fan base. The character’s romance with Han Solo – played by Harrison Ford – too remained a central theme of the franchise.  

Fisher even advocated for Daisy Ridley, who stars in the newer Star Wars movies. In Interview magazine in 2015, Fisher told her: “You’re going to have people have fantasies about you. That will make you uncomfortable, I’m guessing.” She told Ridley to “fight for your outfit” and didn’t want her to be made into a sex symbol like she had. Fisher sadly died on December 27, 2016, after experiencing a medical emergency while on a plane. Fisher’s death was ruled the result of cardiac arrest.   

For more movies and TV content:

'Green Acres' Cast Young: Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor Before the Farm

‘Beetlejuice’: 10 Spooky and Silly Facts About The 1988 Hit Film

‘Pretty Woman’ Fun Facts That Will Have You Re-Watching the 1990 Classic