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Do you have a pile of junk sitting in your garage? Within that junk, do you perhaps have some toys? Yeah, that’s right, you’ve probably got some toys hiding in there. Did you think for a moment that some of those toys might actually be worth quite a lot of money? This is a list of some toys from all of our childhoods that can bring in more than just a couple of memories; they can rake in a good few thousand dollars!
The toys you’ll see on this list go as far back as the 1930s, although they are primarily made up of toys from the 1980s. They were the best things that ever could have happened to us and we all went crazy for them. We wanted to collect them all, to trade them with whomever we could, but we didn’t dream of selling them. In fact, so many of us decided to hold onto them because let’s face it, they’re tangible nostalgia. I was forced by my parents to give them away as I got older, but to be honest, I held onto a few of my favorites. Even though they’re not in mint condition, they’re still my childhood memories in figurine form.
Even if you don’t recognize them all, there are sure to be more than a few toys you’ll have a place in your heart for. From Playmobil to Nintendo Gameboy, this list will make you want to check out what toys you managed to hold onto for all of these years, because people, they could be worth a fortune!
Sky Dancer
The average price for one of these flying dolls back in the day was $9.99. Today, however, a sky dancer can sell for $80. These dolls became popular in the ’90s but soon were recalled for safety reasons. However, the fact that they did just increased their value.
Happy Meal Toys
Back in the day, Happy Meal toys came with the meals for free. Now, however, one toy can cost you $100! When McDonald’s removed Happy Meals from the value menu, the toys started to become more and more valuable over time. Recently, a whole set of “McFurbys” was recently sold for $899!
Skip-It
In the 1990s, a Skip-It was all the rage. Then one would sell for $12.89 or so. Want to know how much a vintage one would sell for today? $120. Yes, seriously. While Skip-Its are still around, the original ones are high in value.
Lite Brite
Named one of the top 100 toys of all time by Time Magazine, the Lite Brite was and still is, incredibly popular ever since its release 1967. Its average price used to be $9.97, but now an original vintage one could flip for $130-150.
Moon Shoes
While these shoes might look weird, they made you feel as if you were walking on the moon – hence the name. They were popular for around 40 years! Back when they were released in the 1950s, they cost $37.52. Now you can flip an original pair for as much as $200. Naturally, they would need to be in great condition to meet that price.
Dear Diary
When this electronic diary was released in the 1990s, it became an instant hit. While we don’t know the price for the original at the time it came out, nowadays, one can sell for $200. As with all the others, it would need to be in top condition to sell for that price.
View-Master
When the View-Master came out in 1939, one would cost you $12.50. It became a hit with adults and children alike. Today, a vintage, well-kept View-Master can sell for roughly $430! These fun little gadgets were used to view pictures through the binocular-like lenses.
Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
These adorable dolls were introduced back in 1979. At the time, they cost $20 for a new one. Today, a Strawberry Shortcake doll can sell for as much as $550 on eBay and similar sites. This is as long as the doll is well kept and in its original packaging.
Super Soaker
Nothing was as satisfying as soaking your friend with water during a water fight. That was all thanks to the Super Soaker. Released in 1990, it became a major success. At the time, the cost of a Super Soaker ranged between $10 and $50. Today, however, you would need to shell out $600 to get your hands on an original one.
Toy Story Toys
As you probably know, the Toy Story franchise has become extremely popular ever since the first movie came out in 1995. Ever since, the toys made based on the characters from the films were a must-have in every toy store. Back when they were first introduced, one of the toys would cost you about $30. Nowadays, to get your hands on one, you would need to pay $500-$700! Surprisingly, the supporting roles are the more pricey figures.
Garbage Pail Kids Cards
How on Earth did we play with these cards? Our parents were always asking us that very question. Despite their absolute freakishness, we loved them! If you have any of these and they’re in great condition, there’s a great chance you can be rich. Recently someone managed to sell a single card on eBay for $300 and an entire 1985 set for $4,000! Talk about valuable toys!
Garbage Pail Kids
Pokémon Cards
Yeah there were some kids who laughed at me and others for collecting Pokémon cards. But since they were released in 1996, they’ve gained major popularity from people of all different age groups. Do you still have some of these? Are they in good condition? You might want to check out how much you can get for them, some people are saying thousands!
Pokémon Cards
1978 Luke Skywalker Action Figure
We should never have underestimated the power and worth of anything Star Wars! Since the world was blessed with the magic of Star Wars in the 1970’s, pretty much any toy or memorabilia has become a collector’s item. In 2015, a true collector paid $25,000 for the Luke Skywalker Action figure released in 1978.
1978 Luke Skywalker Action Figure
PEZ Dispensers
Oh wow, who didn’t have one of these? Yeah, I have to admit that most of the time my PEZ dispenser was empty, but at least it had Daffy Duck on it! These valuable toys can go for quite the hefty sum if they’re unique enough. A unique 1982 PEZ dispenser that goes by the name, “Astronaut B”, sold for $32,000 on eBay.
PEZ Dispensers
The Original Monopoly
There are so many versions of Monopoly, but regardless of which expensive properties are on the board, there is one version that outshines the rest. The hand-drawn version that Charles Darrow made in 1933 collected an incredible $146,500 (real money) in 2011. If you happen to have an older version of Monopoly, you will most likely see yourself in a heap of cash… again, real money.
The Original Monopoly
Game Boy
The Game Boy didn’t just burn the life out of thousands of batteries in our home, it also burned valuable hours that I could have used to do my homework. With games like Super Mario, Zelda, Tetris Attack and Adventure Island, it was pretty darn hard to do anything else. Limited edition Game Boys can go for more than $1,500 today making it one of the most valuable toys of our childhood.
Game Boy
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels has been making some of the most iconic car models of the last century, only in miniature form. With around 4,000,000,000 models having been made, there have got to be some that are worth more than just a couple of bucks. One example is the limited edition 1969 “Volkswagen Beach Bomb” prototype which is worth $125,000.
Hot Wheels
First Edition Pound Puppies Plush
Pound Puppies have come in so many forms since their first creation in the 1980’s, but the originals are the ones we can’t forget. If you happen to have a first edition of these cute guys and it’s in mint condition, you might be able to get yourself something like $5,000.
First Edition Pound Puppies Plush
Cabbage Patch Dolls
How much did you love Cabbage Patch Dolls? Enough that you would be willing to pay $360,000 for the entire collection of them? Well Pat and Joe Prosey own more than 5,000 of them in their own custom-made museum and they’re ready to sell their valuable toys.
Cabbage Patch Dolls
Fisher Price Push Cart Pete
Back in 1936, this very plain toy was selling for only 50 cents. Today however, this toy has become one of the most valuable toys out there. A toy like this in mint condition can be worth $3,000.
Fisher Price Push Cart Pete
1982 Skeletor Action Figure
He-Man and Skeletor bring back the fondest memories of the Masters of the Universe World! If you still have a Skeletor action figure from 1982 and it’s in mint condition, you could be looking at a toy worth at least $2,000!
1982 Skeletor Action Figure
Lite Brite
This one goes back to a time before mine – the 1960’s and 70’s. The original version of the Lite Brite can be sold for over $100 today, and we can guarantee that it was a helluva lot cheaper back in the day.
Lite Brite
Happy Meal Toys
Who would have thought that the freebies you get with your Happy Meal would be worth something? Happy Meal toys have been a thing since their inception in 1979 and some of them are actually worth quite a bit today. In recent news someone managed to sell a 2002 Disney-themed toy on eBay for $300.
Happy Meal Toys
Furby
Only once you become an adult can you understand the true value of a Furby in an unopened box. As a kid, you would never have imagined leaving this toy unopened, heck you wanted to play with it and show it off to your friends! Had you kept it closed in its original packaging, you could have seen $900 coming your way for it.
Furby
Talkboy
It was all thanks to Home Alone 2 that we all scrambled to get our hands on a Talkboy! It was a super-stylish tape recorder that could slow down or speed up your speech. Today you could sell yours for more than $200!
Talkboy
Beanie Babies
I guess teddy bears and their variations never quite go out of circulation and popularity. Beanie Babies bloomed in the early 1990’s and then declined in the late 2000’s, but not everyone stopped caring for them. Some collectors are willing to pay thousands for some types of Beanie Babies. One example is the 1997 1st Edition Princess Diana Beanie Bear which can go for $12,000.
Beanie Babies
Lionel’s Pennsylvania “Trail Blazer” Train Set
It might not have been yours, but there’s still a chance you have it lying around. The 1934 Standard Gauge version of this train can get you something like $250,000. It’s worth looking in the attic again.
Lionel’s Pennsylvania “Trail Blazer” Train Set
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1980’s Actions Figures
Who can forget the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Pizza, anyone? It wasn’t just comics and the television series; it was t-shirts, baseball caps and action figures too. Some of those action figures can rake in $500 a piece and even up to $5,000 for a rare one.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1980’s Actions Figures
Vinyl Caped Jawa
Before you get your hopes up, understand that this is a very specific model. When the Caped Jawa came out in 1978, the cape was vinyl but creators felt that it looked cheap so they changed it to cloth. The vinyl version then became a rarity and is worth at least $5,000 today!
Vinyl Caped Jawa
Transformers
We’r not talking about the movie, folks. We’re talking about the 1980’s original Transformers toy that had us changing robots into guns, cars and fighter jets. A Transformer model still in mint condition and in its original packaging can fetch you more than $2,000.
Transformers
Jurassic Park Figures
The movie had us captivated, now the toys can make us rich. If you happen to have an original dinosaur figurine at home, it could bring you up to $1,200!
Jurassic Park Figures
Vintage Super Soaker Gun
Super Soakers were a summer sensation and ever since Lonnie Johnson’s version hit the stores, a million others were made. The 1982 water gun revolutionized the way we carried out water fights and an original version could potentially revolutionize the money in your wallet by up to $1,000.
Vintage Super Soaker Gun
Stretch Armstrong
Hasbro brought us another childhood favorite with the “Stretch Armstrong”, and stretchy it was. These stretchy toys are actually stretchy valuable toys that have been auctioned off for $10,000 a piece!
Stretch Armstrong
Mario Cart 64
Super Mario has never faltered from being a favorite for kids and adults of most ages. Owning a mint-condition vintage cartridge can bring in $750.
Mario Cart 64
G.I. Joe Circa 1964
We’re not sure just how many versions exist of the G.I. Joe, but we could tell you which one is worth the most. In its mint condition and original packaging, the 1964 G.I. Joe figurine can pull in an incredible $10,000!
G.I. Joe Circa 1964
Playmobil
My my, how I miss my Playmobil guys. There were so many different kinds you could get of the rigid characters. The German toy is quite valuable today and some sets in good condition could be worth more than $800.
Playmobil
Barbie
Barbie first showed her face (and ridiculous body proportions) to the world in 1959. She transformed the way girls chose dolls for themselves and even made her status one worthy of collection with dolls going for as much as $23,000!
Barbie
Harry Potter
Can you believe that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone almost didn’t find a publisher? Well thank goodness it eventually did and now a first edition is worth more than $6,500!
Harry Potter
Beauty And The Beast VHS
Awww, who didn’t love this piece of majestic art? It’s tough to admit, but the Beast was quite a scary character. With everything being so simple to stream or download online, who would watch this on DVD, never mind VHS. Well, if you still have this on VHS a perfect original copy could be worth $300,000.
Beauty And The Beast VHS
Marilyn Monroe POGs
POGs or Slammers? Either way, we all knew all too well what to do with them. Did you ever see these rare Marilyn Monroe editions? If you have the whole collection of 10, you could be rich. These valuable toys are worth $1,250 or so.
Marilyn Monroe POGs
My Little Pony
If your “My Little Pony” was anything like the ones we had growing up, then you’re out of luck. There’s only so many haircuts these psychedelic ponies can handle, but it takes just one to make it lose its value. If you’ve got the “My Little Pony Greek Blue Baby Glory El Greco Unicorn” from the 1980’s then you can get $1,500 for it.
My Little Pony
Lego Paradisa
What would it be like to live in a Lego paradise? I have no idea, and frankly we don’t have nearly enough time to talk about that so let’s move on. This 1992 “Lego Town Paradisa Poolside Paradise” is worth $679.
Lego Paradisa
Puffalumps
So it might not be the most attractive stuffed toy out there, but it is worth a small fortune. The 1988 “Puffalump Easter Chick With Flowers” (don’t forget the flowers) is worth $225.
Puffalumps
Krystal Princess Dolls
What exactly is it? Why, it’s a Krystal Princess Doll! Didn’t you know that already? Give me $248 ad I’ll tell you all about it, or you can just buy yourself one.
Krystal Princess Dolls
Mall Madness
Would you pay $500 to buy a mall? Let me clarify – the mall is the size of a board game. If there was ever a way to encourage young girls to learn how to shop, this was the game!
Mall Madness
Polly Pocket
There were so many different kinds of Polly Pockets when we were growing up, but who remembers the “Musical Dream Wedding” one? Not many because this specific 1995 edition is rare and is worth $500.
Polly Pocket
Rainbow Brite Dolls
Not everyone will remember the animated TV series where this comes from, but for those who do, this one is for you. An original Rainbow Brite Doll can fetch you something like $300, but certain accessories like this horse, could rake in $1,000.
Rainbow Brite Dolls
Boba Fett Action Figure
When you’re running under the name of Star Wars, you can feel safe that your merchandise will be worth a fortune and more. The Boba Fetta action figure, in its packaging is worth upward from $5,000!
Boba Fett Action Figure
Vintage Lego Trains
We all loved Lego, and let’s face it, given the chance now we’d all be on our knees playing. Add trains to the equation and you have yourself a collector’s item that’s worth some bank. Having the right Lego train set could be worth anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500.
Vintage Lego Trains
Digimon Toy
We all started with Tamagochis and then every kind of variant come out after that. I’ll never forget my first one and how quickly I became “an adult”, feeding and playing with my baby. Certain basic digimons (digital monsters – who knew?) are worth over $100.
Digimon Toy
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
If you were an 80s kid, or you had older sisters, then these valuable toys probably made their rounds for a few years. If they’re still in circulation around your house you might want to check how much you can collect for them – something like $400 to $600.
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
She-Ra Princess Of Power
He-Man? She-Ra! It runs in the family, and so does their epic value. If you can get your hands on an original action figure still in the box, with her beloved horse, you’re looking at some big bucks. We’re talking $4,000 big.
She-Ra Princess Of Power
Jem And The Holograms Dolls
They’re not Barbies, and to heck with you if you ever said that they were. The price on one of these has skyrocketed! A single doll can be worth more than $700. Seems like you might want to take a look in the attic again.
Jem And The Holograms Dolls
Vintage Colorforms
Who used to love coloring books when they were kids? Who still loves coloring books? I do! Well if you did back then, then you can understand why adults of today would still love them and they’re willing to pay for these vintage ones. 80s-themed colorforms are worth a $250 or so.
Vintage Colorforms
Teddy Ruxpin
What’s better than having a teddy bear for your kid? How about a teddy bear that can read your kids bedtime stories? Sounds pretty good, I would say. So good, in fact, that many people are talking about paying $500 to get their hands on a teddy like this. One catch, it’s got to be in perfect condition.
Teddy Ruxpin
Masters Of The Universe Eternia Playset
When it comes to valuable toys from the “Masters of the Universe” collection, perhaps this is the cream of the crop. One eBay seller even described it as the Holy Grail of the collection. So how much would someone be willing to pay for this “Holy Grail”? Something like $1,900.
Masters Of The Universe Eternia Playset
Mario Kart 64
Oh my, can you feel the nostalgia creeping into your tummy? I always wanted to be Yoshi, who did you want to be? Yeah, I thought so. If you have this game cartridge in mint condition, then you’re basically looking at $750.
Mario Kart 64
Vintage Atari Cartridges
Speaking of ancient game cartridges, does Atari ring a bell? Did you ever hear the mysterious story of the great Atari burial scandal back in 1983? No? Well, that’s a story for another time. Once some of those cartridges were rediscovered, their value was somewhere as high as $107,000!
Vintage Atari Cartridges
Where The Wild Things Are
“Terms and conditions” definitely apply here, and you’ll understand why. It was in 2012 that an original and mint-conditioned edition of “Where the Wild Things Are” sold on eBay for an astounding $25,000! Did I mention that it was an original 1963 first edition?
Where The Wild Things Are
American Girl Molly Doll
So these dolls actually still circulate, only they’re newer versions and worth something like $150. But if you happen to have one that has been taken out of circulation, and one that has all its accessories, then you might have yourself some valuable toys. An original can be worth $5,000.
American Girl Molly Doll
Wun-Dar He Man
Sometimes a freebie can worth a lot more than just getting a bonus toy. Back in the 1990’s, if you bought a Wonder Bread you probably got one of these. Today there’s no set value given to this He-Man toy, but you can be sure that it’s worth something.
Wun-Dar He Man
Action Comics
Hundreds of dollars? Thousands? Try MILLIONS! This 1938 edition of action comics that once cost 10 cents, is now worth $3.2 million! In total, there are less than 50 of these that went into circulation. Can you imagine how few are still in pristine condition?
Action Comics
Sega Genesis Console
It’s hard for kids of today to imagine playing a computer game that isn’t HD, doesn’t have 1 terabyte memory, and doesn’t have access to the internet. Well, someone’s got to tell them that once upon a sausage there were things like the old Sega Genesis game system. For anyone who managed to hold onto one of these, they can claim up to $2,000 from the right buyer.
Sega Genesis Console