This article originally appeared on eightieskids.com

Mego Elastic Batman ($1,500)

1980’s Mego Elastic Batman was an alternative to the standard 8″ figurine, which was dropping in popularity by the late 70s. Unfortunately, after prototypes were made, toy company Kenner sued Mego, saying that the elastic superhero range was too similar to their own Stretch Armstrong toy. Following the lawsuit only two Elastic Batman figures remained in existence, one of which sold for $15,000 in 2006.

1982 World’s Fair Knoxville, Tennessee Pez Dispensers ($32,305)

Produced for the 1982 World’s Fair, the Tennessee Astronaut B is one of the rarest collectible Pez Dispensers of all time, with only two known to exist. It looks identical to the 1977 Pez Astronaut, except for the misspelling of Tennessee on the side, which hikes up the value even more. The last time one was sold was in 2006, when it went for $32,305.

Golden Monopoly Set ($2 million)

Monopoly was taken to its most logical extreme in 1998, when prominent jeweller Sidney Mobell created a version of the money-based board game plated with 23-carat gold, accompanied by solid 18-carat gold pieces and diamond-studded dice. This unique Monopoly set is currently held in the Smithsonian Museum, unavailable for purchase, but the most recent valuations say it would go for $2 million.

Astolat Dollhouse Castle ($8.5 million)

Credit: David Halpernist via Wikipedia Commons

The Astolat Dollhouse Castle was created by master miniaturist Elaine Diehl. Taking 13 years to build, it boasts 29 rooms and 20 adjacent areas, as well as 10,000 pieces of tiny, intricate furniture. Over the years, 30,000 more pieces have been added to became a sprawling miniature estate. It was last valued at $8.5 million, making it the most expensive toy in existence.

Adam Bomb Garbage Pail Kid Card ($3,000)

The Garbage Pail Kids trading cards gained notoriety in the 80s for their outrageous character designs and images. It’s unclear why Adam Bomb is more popular than the other sticker cards in the collection, but it’s worth roughly triple any other card in the deck. Where most Garbage Pail Kids cards go for about $1,000 on the resale market, Adam Bomb generally fetches around $3,000!

Peanut Blue Beanie Baby ($5,000)

When it comes to both valuable rare toys and nostalgic 80s fads, Beanie Babies are an empire unto themselves. However, few are as rare or as valuable as Peanut the Elephant. Due to a printing error, 2,000 Peanuts hit the shelves with much darker blue fur than intended. These can now sell for up to $5,000, depending on the condition and whether tags are included.

American Girl Molly ($11,000)

At around $120 new, American Girl Dolls are already an upscale toy, but models that have been discontinued sell for significantly more to collectors. Any discontinued doll still with her original clothes and accessories can fetch around $1,000, but Molly is particularly coveted. Though listings vary based on doll cleanliness and the presence of accessories, Molly dolls on average sell for around $11,000.

Vintage Atari Cartridges ($500,000)

Almost all games for the discontinued Atari 2600 console fetch a high price, but the most valuable by far is Gamma-Attack, only one copy is known to exist. The cartridge is in the private collection of Anthony DeNardo, who says he’s unwilling to sell, but once listed it on eBay for $500,000 just to see how much other collectors were willing to pay.

Original Transformers Action Figures ($1,600)

Even more than My Little Pony toys or Strawberry Shortcakes, your original 80s Transformers toys could be worth a lot today. If you were lucky enough to buy a Transformer in 1984, or more likely an adult in your life bought it for you, and you managed to keep it in its original box, then you’re looking at a toy that’s now worth $1,000-$2,000.

Original Luke Skywalker Toy ($25,000)

Star Wars toys are another range that are often sold for a lot of money, but if you want to make the really big bucks, then look no further than this 1978 Luke Skywalker figure. There are thought to be only 20 boxed versions still in circulation, so an original can sell for up to $25,000.

Rocket Firing Boba Fett, 1979 ($236,000)

The rocket-firing Boba Fett is a legendary action figure among toy enthusiasts. Only around 100 were made with this specific firing mechanism, in order to test the safety and efficiency before they officially hit shelves. Nowadays, finding one at all is like gold dust, and finding one still in its original packaging is even rarer: they’ve been known to sell for up to $236,000.

Transformers Autobot Air Guardian Jetfire, 1985 ($599)

One of the most valuable Generation One Transformers toys is the Generation One Autobot Air Guardian, released in 1985. This awesome red and white plane has become pretty hard to source on the resale market, leading to auction prices of around $200 minimum. If you’re lucky enough to have one in mint or out-of-the-box condition, you may be looking at $600.

Mint Tulip Strawberry Shortcake ($120)

If you’re a pretty serious Strawberry Shortcake fan but you’ve never heard of Mint Tulip – don’t worry! Instead of being part of the original central cast, she was introduced during Strawberry’s around-the-world tour, when she visited the Dutch-inspired area of Hollandaise. A still-in-the-box Mint Tulip will fetch almost $1,000, while a doll without her box will still be worth over $100.

Fisher-Price Little People Family House ($83)

The Fisher-Price Little People Family House is one of the most in-demand 80s toys to have no cartoon associations. As this particular toy was aimed at toddlers, who tend to be pretty messy and heavy-handed with their toys, not many of these plastic yellow doll houses still exist in circulation. Therefore, they can fetch prices of $83, even with significant wear and tear.

Thundercats Lion-O Action Figure ($1,672)

ThunderCats is one the most instantly recognisable children’s properties of the 80s. Of all of the central cast, none are so iconic as Lion-O, the leader of the Thundercats clan and its most powerful warrior. Though Lion-O action figures are pretty easy to come by, boxed versions are hugely coveted on the resale market, resulting in a price of over $1,600.

Original Teddy Ruxpin ($230)

Despite the long-standing ubiquity of teddy bears, few have achieved brand name recognition. Teddy Ruxpin is one of those few, a huge seller in the mid-80s due to the novelty of him containing a audio cassette player. Many Teddy Ruxpin bears are still in circulation today, and if you have one in mint condition it might fetch more than $200 secondhand.

G.I. Joe Motorized Battle Tank ($1,911)

Iconic military man GI Joe has been a beloved toy for generations, hence the popularity of his motorized battle tank. Several versions of this toy have been released since the 80s, but the original run is increasingly difficult to find. They tend to fetch upwards of $1,000 at auction, especially if the tank is still in the unopened box.

Megatron Gun ($2,359)

Nowadays, many frown on the idea of giving children realistic-looking guns, but the makers of the Transformers toy line had no such concerns. Decepticon leader Megatron takes three totally distinct forms, making it hugely desirable for play. As a result, not many examples are left still in the box, leading to a whopping price tag of over $2,000 for still sealed Megatron guns!

He-Man And Battle Cat Two-Pack ($95)

Ever since He-Man was released in 1983, it’s been an iconic piece of toy history. Unfortunately, the line’s popularity works against it in terms of value. The He-Man and Battle Cat two-pack playset is one of the most desired items on the resale market, but its value tops out at just under $100. Not bad for buyers, but not so good for sellers!

The Super Soaker 50 ($107)

The toy that every kid with a summer birthday begged for above all others was a Super Soaker, and the 1990s Super Soaker 50 was the best of them all. They were meant to be played with, not left in a box, so most of the secondhand listings you’ll see have some level of wear and tear – but this doesn’t stop them fetching over $100!

Original Pikachu Pokemon card ($5,375)

Lots of former Pokémon obsessives have grown up and found out that their prized collection of cards has accrued massive value since they last pulled them out to battle. The Holy Grail of Pokémon cards is the original Pikachu card, which now regularly fetches over $5,000 at auction when in good condition.

My Little Pony Rapunzel ($900)

Some original My Little Pony toys can fetch a pretty price, especially the rarer ones. The legendary Rapunzel pony was only available as a special mail order toy, and so it was only purchased by serious enthusiasts and collectors. As a result, it’s easier to find them in good condition, but you should be prepared to pay upwards of $900.

Polly Pocket Jasmine’s Royal Castle ($165)

In the mid-90s, Polly Pocket released a collaboration with Disney that included multiple princess castles, the coolest of which featured Jasmine from Aladdin. Due to all its tiny component parts and little details, the Polly Pocket Jasmine Princess Castle was expensive on release and is even more expensive today. You can expect to pay upwards of $150 for a model with minimal wear and tear.

NobleHeart Horse Care Bear ($599)

Care Bears are one of the most iconic 80s properties out there. Arguably even cuter were the Care Bear Cousins, which were each based on a different, distinct animal. The most coveted Care Bear Cousin is Noble Heart the Horse. If you’re looking to snag one at auction you’ll have to wait patiently, and be prepared to spend almost $600!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Technodrome Playset ($360)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is another of the best-loved cartoon/toy line crossovers of the 80s, and one of the most desired items from the range is the Technodrome. If you’re looking to add to the evil Krang’s headquarters to your retro collection, then you can expect to pay just over $300 for one out of the box.

Vintage 1959 Barbie ($23,000)

Barbie was launched on March 9, 1959 by American company Mattel, Inc, and would go on to become perhaps the most iconic children’s toy of all time. This 1959 limited edition Barbie, which sports a black and white swimsuit and high heels, has gone for $23,000 at auction, setting a record which has yet to be beaten.

Hot Wheels: 1969 VW Beach Bomb ($125,000)

Another offering from Mattel, Hot Wheels toys are probably responsible for a generation of petrol-heads. The honour for most expensive Hot Wheels car ever sold goes to the 1969 Volkswagen Beach Bomb. This prototype was never approved for production, making it the only one of its kind and a serious prize for collectors. In 2011 the model was sold for an eye-popping $125,000.

Original Monopoly ($146,500)

A new Monopoly set today costs around $25, but early sets are highly desirable to collectors because they were hand painted, making each one unique. Creator Charles Darrow sold his original hand-painted oil cloth version at auction for $146,500: it’s unlikely that any other set will fetch that price, but some of the earliest editions are still worth a lot.

Mickey Mantle baseball card ($12.6 million)

Bowman Gum released their first baseball cards in 1948, starting a craze that would last decades. A mint condition 1952 Mickey Mantle card was sold in 2022 for $12.6 million, making it both the most valuable baseball card and the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever. The previous record was held by football maestro Maradona’s shirt, which went for $9.3 million at auction.

Telescoping lightsaber Darth Vader ($7,000-$9,000)

Kenner’s first Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader action figures came with a retractable lightsaber, but early customers complained these were fiddly and prone to breaking. Kenner withdrew the product and quickly rushed out a new design. Since not many of the original edition were ever sold, they have become a collector’s item and go for somewhere between $7,000 and $9,000, depending on condition.

Babe Ruth toy ($13,600)

It’s not just baseball cards that get collectors’ pulses racing: rare baseball toys can also be worth serious cash to the right person. When toy company McFarlane released their line of Babe Ruth models, they included five special editions with the baseball legend wearing a distinctive blue hat. In 2009, one sold for the princely sum of $13,600.

Vinyl cape Jawa ($18,000)

Star Wars toymakers Kenner initially released Jawa figures with vinyl capes. As consumers complained these felt cheap, subsequent Jawas had cloth capes instead. The original vinyl-sporting Jawas subsequently became more valuable due to their rarity. One such Jawa toy was sold for $18,000 at a Vectis auction, making it one of the most valuable Star Wars toys of all time.

Life sized Megumi Kato doll ($19,600)

Megumi Kato is a 16-year-old schoolgirl from the Japanese anime series How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. Ultra-fans with deep pockets might be tempted to invest in a life-sized model of Kato, which stands at over five feet tall. Only ten were ever created: initially listed at $19,600 each, demand quickly outstripped supply, so they ended up being sold via a lottery system.

Steiff and Louis Vuitton teddy ($2.1 million)

The world’s most expensive teddy bear was made by German toy company Steiff and elite fashion house Louis Vuitton, and comes complete with suitcase, trench coat and beret, plus gold eyes adorned with diamonds and sapphires. The stuffed animal was created in 2000 and sold the same year at a Monaco Charity auction, snapped up by Korean entrepreneur Jessie Kim for $2.1 million.

Mickey Mouse motorcycle ($110,000)

The single most expensive Mickey Mouse toy ever sold is a tin model of Mickey and Minnie on a motorcycle. The wind-up toy was produced in Germany in 1930, intended for sale in the UK market. It’s believed only 18 were ever manufactured, and only one boxed version has ever been discovered, which it sold for $110,000 at Randy Inman Auctions on October 8, 2000.

She-Ra and Swift Wind ($100-$4,000)

She-Ra: Princess of Power was introduced in 1984 as a feminine counterpart to He-Man. The most valuable She-Ra toy is a model which comes complete with her sidekick, the flying unicorn Swift Wind. A mint condition, boxed version of this toy sold in 2018 for $4,000. Not quite as lucrative as some of the items on this list but not exactly small change either.

Moon Belly Kamala ($3,000-$22,000)

Back when WWE was WWF, one of their wrestling stars was Kamala, whose signature look included a loincloth and warpaint, with a moon daubed on his belly. Alas, Kamala’s Hasbro-produced action figure accidentally ended up with a star where the moon should’ve been. Eventually the error was noticed, but only a small number of moon-bellied figures were manufactured; today, these between $3,000 and $22,000.

Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse Nintendo game ($9,000)

Castlevania is one of the longest-running, most popular video game franchises with over 40 games produced. However, second sequel Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is extremely hard to get hold of and consequently worth a lot of money. Copies of the game, which was released in 1989 for the NES and has been described by reviewers as “excessively difficult”, can go for up to $9,000.

Magic: The Gathering: Black Lotus card ($511,000)

Credit: Sean Ellis via Flickr

First going on sale in 1993, trading card game Magic: The Gathering amassed approximately 35 million players as of 2018. Some of the early cards have achieved a mythical status due to their rarity, with die-hard players spending exorbitant amounts of cash to get hold of them. The most prized of these cards is the Black Lotus; in 2021, one sold for $511,000.

Original Furby ($900)

Striking an odd balance between endearing and creepy, the Furby was first released in 1998 and last produced in 2016. They were never really seen as collectors’ items, owners of an original might still be in for a payday, with early editions going for almost a thousand dollars online.

Marklin Paddle Wheeler Chicago ($264,500)

Credit: Bertoia Auctions

Back in the old (and we mean old) days, wind-up toys were the soup de jour, and the ultimate status symbol was a Marklin wind-up toy. In a recent Marklin auction, all kinds of intricate metal boats, planes and cars from the 1940s and 50s were sold to enthusiasts, and none were as desired as the Marklin Paddle Wheeler Chicago, which sold for over $264,000!

1950s Dinky Austin Devon Saloon ($556)

Dinky has been making intricate metal toy vehicles for over half a century, and there are dozens with special places in the hearts of enthusiasts. With that said, when it comes to value alone, it’s the 1950s Austin Saloon that takes the grand prize, with a value of over $500!

Die-cast Lamborghini Aventador Gold ($7.5 million)

All Bburago die-cast cars are pretty valuable as far as retro toys go, but one specific Lamborghini Aventador toy beats them all: it was made by an artisan crafter and began as a 500kg block of solid gold. Not only that, but it is decked out with gems inside and out, and has a value estimation currently sitting at a cool $7.5 million.

Spice Girls boxed dolls ($850)

No one ruled the 90s like The Spice Girls, surely the most extensively, aggressively merchandised pop band of the time. The Holy Grail of Spice Girls merch are the Girl Power and On Tour dolls, depicting Baby, Sporty, Scary, Posh and Ginger in their most iconic outfits. If you want to buy all the dolls at once today, expect to pay over $850.

Puma Special Edition Tamagotchi ($2,499)

The keychain-sized virtual pets Tamagotchis remain an instantly recognisable emblem of the 1990s. They came in hundreds of different designs and colours, meaning the value of vintage Tamagotchis varies wildly. For this ice blue and white Puma-branded special edition Tamagotchi, you can expect to pay nearly a whopping $2,500. You might snag it for slightly less in its out-of-the-packaging form.

1950s Hubley Cap Gun ($750)

Toy guns, though controversial today, were hugely popular in years gone by, and toy company Hubley were renowned for their detailed and loving recreations of popular models. Unfortunately, these retro toys are now prestige items, and so for an authentic 1950s Hubley cap gun you should be prepared to shell out around $750.

Masters of the Universe Skeletor Figure ($149)

Any hero is only as good as their villain, and He-Man had a truly iconic nemesis in Skeletor, so it’s not surprising that millions of children were eager to add him to their collection. Of course, this popularity means that despite the proliferation of Skeletor toys on the resale market, you’re still looking at a starting price of $150 for a boxed original.

Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Range ($950)

In 1995, Mattel introduced the Treasure Hunt Hot Wheels, which packaged up random limited edition cars into cases for collectors to choose from at random. Even ultra-modern iterations of this series can reach nearly triple digits on the resale market if they’re in good condition and haven’t been taken out of the box. You’re unlikely to find many for less than $950.

Naruto Pogs ($185)

Pogs! How this craze went from a nearly century-old game played for free with milk bottle caps to something to be collected, curated and invested in is kind of unexplainable, but the reality is that all Pog collectors are now potentially sitting on a significant amount of money. This set of Naruto-themed Pogs is worth over $150 even in used condition.

1964 Defender Dan ($3,499)

If the names Suzy Homemaker, Johnny Lightning, Dream Kitchen or Jimmy Jet seem familiar, you have Topper Toys and the Deluxe Reading corporation to thank. One of their lesser-known toys is the Defender Dan, a mounted machine gun that was available to purchase in 1964. These toys regularly sell for almost $3,500 on the resale market.

Action Comics Issue 1 ($3.2 million)

A pristine 1938 first edition of this iconic comic book set a new record when it was put up for auction in 2013, for the highest amount ever paid for a comic book on eBay. And rightly so: there are fewer than 50 copies of this book (which features the first appearance of Superman) known to exist.

Raggedy Ann doll ($4,500)

Do you own a Raggedy Ann doll with dark brown hair produced by Volland, and with a tag that reads ‘Patented September 7, 1915’? Great news: you could be sitting on a relative fortune. This is a particular early Raggedy Ann Doll, which is coveted by collectors and could go for as much as $4,500.

Kermit the Frog doll ($2,500)

Kermit the Frog has been entertaining audiences since 1955 as the face of the Muppet franchise, but it took until 1976 for a decent Kermit doll to hit the market. If you still own one of these, and if it’s in good condition, you could be looking at $2,500!

Horrorscope Movie Viewer ($25,000)

As well as being one the greatest named toys of all time, the Horrorscope Movie Viewer is also one of the most valuable. This innovative device was created back in 1964 and featured four spooky tales: Frankenstein, Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and The Curse of the Werewolf. One of these once sold for $25,000!

Claude the Crab Beanie Baby ($10,000)

Beanie Babies were not practical toys by any means, but they still exploded onto the scene back in the 1990s. Like Pogs and Pokemon Cards, Beanie Babies were more of a status symbol than a toy – an investment if you’d like. Certain Babies, like Claude the Crab, can go for obscene amounts on eBay, with one selling for $10,200 a few years back.

Lite-Brite ($1,000)

Invented in Chicago by Burt Meyer, the Lite-Brite merged peg art and cool lights, allowing children to express themselves and create bright artwork. Today, the Lite-Brite is a collectible, that can go for anywhere between $150 to $1,5000. Stick yours on eBay and see what bids come in!

E.T Doll ($900)

Every child has the same desire when they watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the first time: I want my own friendly alien. For kids in 1982, this was a reality, at least in toy form. Today, those same kids are likely parting ways with their childish impulse for cold hard cash. $900 to be precise.

Easy-Bake Oven ($200)

The Easy-Bake Oven is a seminal toy, one that completely changed the game, turning the industry on its head like nothing before or after it. Me? A child? Owning my own oven? When this dropped in the winter of 1963, kids went ape. Some 50 years later, a vintage Easy-Bake can go for around $200.

Original Game Boy ($300)

The continued relevance of the iOS App Store proves just how ahead of its time the Nintendo Game Boy was. This handheld gaming device first debuted in the US in 1989. The device’s popularity only grew into the 1990s with the advent of the Pokemon games. Today, an original Game Boy can go for $300.

Push Cart Pete ($8,000)

Old school Fisher-Price toys can be very valuable if they’re in pristine condition, and Push Cart Pete is no exception. This pull toy from 1936 sold for a whopping $8,000 back in 2009. That’s a huge profit considering Pete was sold for 50 cents when it first came out.

Mario Kart 64 ($10,000)

Mario Kart 64, the second in the Mario Kart series, is the Nintendo 64’s second-best-selling game of all time, with sales of more than 9.8 million units. Naturally, a lot of these units were torn open within seconds of discovery, but any sealed and mint copies can sell for as much as $10,000!

Bop It Extreme ($700)

Bop it! Twist it! Flick it! Sell it! No, seriously, sell it. When was the last time you used that Bop It? Probably a long, long time ago. If you’ve got a Bop It Extreme in particular you should really sell it. Buyers have been shown to cough up $700 for one of these toys. That could easily cover a nice holiday for you and your family.

Vintage Tamagotchi ($600)

Tamagotchis, the handheld digital pits that introduced kids to the concept of responsibility, took the 1990s by storm. As of 2021, a staggering 83 million units have been sold, which means there are a lot of people out there on the cusp of a big payout. Well, around $600 if it’s the right model and condition.

Strawberry Shortcake dolls ($500)

Strawberry Shortcake dolls may look pretty run-of-the-mill as far as toys go, but they have been known to go for respectable sums if you’re in possession of some and looking to sell. The OG dolls, released in the 1980s, are now worth around $500 – nothing to be sniffed at.

Thundercats Bengali action figure ($2,000)

If you know anything about Thundercats, you’ll know that Bengali was one of the greatest. It makes sense that he’s now going for a lucrative sum of money on the collector’s market. This 1986 action figure has previously gone for $2,000 on eBay so if you’re a former Thundercats fan with a taste for money, you know what to do.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon card ($45,000)

One of the main things that distinguished Yu-Gi-Oh from Pokemon is that a card was actually practical and not just something to preserve in a laminate casing. Not only could you show off your Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but you could use it in a duel. Today, you can summon it on eBay and find it getting interest at $45,000.

Holiday Hero Buzz Lightyear ($1,000)

The power of Buzz Lightyear was such that even before the release of Toy Story in 1995, toys of him had already sold out. That’s right, kids went bananas for Lightyear back in the day. But it’s the limited edition Holiday Hero Buzz Lightyear that’ll earn you some real money – around $1,000 if you’re willing to part ways.

Prototype G.I. Joe action figure ($200,000)

Various G.I. Joe collectables go for decent sums, but this action figure is a different kettle of fish altogether. Series creator Don Levine hand-carved this prototype in 1963, modelling it after the then-James Bond, Sean Connery. In 2003, one sold for $200,000 on eBay. Go and rummage through your attic ASAP.

LEGO Trains ($1,500)

Two of the biggest micro interests humans have are trains and Lego, so it made perfect sense to create a Lego train. And it makes perfect sense why the Lego train is now collector’s item. If you have a classic and well-preserved Lego train, you could be looking at around $1,500.

Vintage My Little Pony ($6,000)

My Little Pony may not have had the legs long-term, but the mere mention of their name can conjure up happy memories for lots of kids. It should also conjure up dollar signs in your eyes. These small, largely-useless figurines can cost up to $6,000 if you find a buyer eager enough!