Mini X-wing Starfighter from Star Wars Auctioned for $3 Million at Greg Jein’s Collection Event

In a bustling event that saw enthusiasts and collectors clashing in a bidding war, a mini X-wing Starfighter, iconic from a “Star Wars” film, found a new home for a whopping US$3 million. This spectacle transpired during a weekend auction dedicated to the diverse collection of the late Greg Jein, Hollywood’s legendary model-maker.

Jein, having passed away last year at the age of 76, left behind a treasure trove valued at US$13.6 million. Heritage Auctions in Dallas had the honor of overseeing this tremendous event, which brought together a large crowd comprising model-makers, collectors, and science fiction connoisseurs, making it the auction house’s most attended event in recent years.

Paying homage to Jein, Joe Maddalena, the Executive Vice President of Heritage and a close friend of Jein’s, acknowledged the auction as an eloquent tribute to Jein’s artistic influence, both as a visual-effects titan and an avid collector.

Throughout his career, Jein gained recognition for his expertise in crafting miniatures, bagging both Oscar and Emmy nominations. His passion transcended work—his lifelong fascination saw him amassing a unique assortment of costumes, props, scripts, photographs, artworks, and models representative of his beloved shows.

The Red Leader X-wing Starfighter, a piece from the 1977 “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” fetched the largest value, selling at approximately US$3.1 million. The intense bidding war between two fervent collectors raised the bar and the price of this revered artifact. The auction also saw a “Star Wars” Stormtrooper costume selling for an impressive US$645,000.

Among the rarer items auctioned was the surviving spacesuit from Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” securing a handsome US$447,000.

As a distinct “Star Trek” enthusiast before becoming a part of the franchise, Jein collected several items which sparked interest in the auction. A filming model of the “SS Botany Bay” vessel from “Star Trek: The Original Series” from the 1960s was sold for US$200,000, and prop devices such as a hero phaser and a tricorder attracted US$187,500 and US$175,000 respectively.

An early masterpiece from Jein’s portfolio was the mothership model for Steven Spielberg’s 1977 film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Though the model appears gigantic in the movie, it measures just over 5 feet, and is now a prized possession in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. A smaller 5-inch preliminary model from Jein’s collection attracted US$55,000 in the auction.

Lou Zutavern, a close friend and shop supervisor of Jein’s, reminisced Jein’s love for Hollywood history and his enthusiasm in acquiring pieces for his vast collection. Zutavern fondly remembered how Jein, with a rare zest, sought, discovered, and traded pieces to add them to his collection—a pursuit that brought him great joy.