RUSSIAN, SAMARA - JANUARY 24, 2019. LEGO STAR WARS. Minifigures Star Wars Various Characters
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11 Vintage Toys That Are Worth a Fortune Today

Stop right there! You know those old toys you have in your attic? Well, they could actually be worth something today because many of those classic playthings have become hot items for collectors. They’re fetching some serious cash, meaning you could be sitting on a small fortune. Let’s dust off those memories and find out which childhood favorites are worth the most and why.

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Original Barbie Dolls (1959)

Black-and-white photo of early Barbie dolls
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

If you have a Barbie doll from her debut in 1959, keep her safe because she could be worth a bit. Many collectors will happily pay thousands of dollars for them and even more if they’re in their original boxes. These dolls kicked off the whole Barbie craze. So, it’s no surprise that they’re so special to collectors.

Vintage Star Wars Action Figures

Star Wars Stormtrooper toys posed with each other
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Any Star Wars figures from the ’70s or ’80s tucked away have more than merely sentimental value. For example, an original 1978 Luke Skywalker figure with his lightsaber intact could get you around $25,000! Star Wars has a massive fan base and collectors go nuts for the original figures. They’ll pay top dollar for the rare ones.

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Original G.I. Joe Action Figures (1964)

GI Joe Franchise logo on a white background
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Way back in 1964, the first G.I. Joe was released and they’re now worth quite a bit. In particular, the 12-inch versions with real hair and a kung-fu grip are quite high-value items. These toys were pioneers of the action figure market and collectors are willing to pay a premium for these pieces of toy history. In some cases, this can be around tens of thousands of dollars.

Vintage LEGO Train Sets

Cropped view of mother and son playing with lego on carpet in living room with lego blocks.
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It’s time to stop building imaginary castles and start building real ones as classic LEGO train sets are pretty valuable now. Sets from the early ’80s, especially those that are no longer in production, can fetch over $1,500 if they’re complete & in good shape. LEGO has always had a knack for creating collectible items—these train sets are no exception.

First Edition Pokémon Cards

Pokémon Card Value: How Much Are Your Pokémon Cards Worth?
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Take a look at your Pokémon card collection and see if you can find any first-edition cards. If you do, then it might be time to celebrate, as ultra-rare cards like the holographic Charizard have sold for over $200,000! Even now, Pokémon remains hugely popular and those rare cards from 1999 are worth their weight in gold.

Teddy Ruxpin (1985)

Teddy Ruxpin cassette tape toy
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Instead of being your average teddy bear, Teddy Ruxpin told stories and brought them to life with his moving mouth and eyes. If yours is still working and in great condition, it could be worth around $500. While that might not be a huge amount, it’s still a hefty amount for an old toy. Teddy Ruxpin was ahead of his time and today, he’s worth more than just a hug.

Original Optimus Prime Transformers Toy

Optimus Prime toy in truck form on a desk
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Let’s get one thing straight—Transformer toys will never go out of style and Optimus Prime will always be a legend in toy history. That’s why any original Optimus Prime toys from the ‘80s, still in the box, are so expensive today. It could be worth over $2,000! This truck played a huge part in millions of childhoods and a valuable one at that.

Game Boy (Original 1989 Model)

Nintendo Game Boy lying on a table with a Tetris gamecard in front
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The Game Boy was many kids’ first video game console, although it’s not simply for fun & games anymore. These gadgets are now collectibles. An original Game Boy from 1989 that’s in its original packaging can sell for more than $1,000. This is one piece of gaming history that many want to get their hands on. And they’ll pay top dollar to do so!

Vintage Super Soaker Water Guns

Man using a Super Soaker to squirt someone off-camera with water
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Back in the day, you couldn’t enjoy your summer vacation properly without Super Soakers. The best-kept ones from 1991 could be worth up to $600. These toys gave us endless amounts of fun, and now, collectors are hunting down the early models. They’re trying to recapture those water fight victories once again.

Pez Dispensers (Pre-1980)

Collection of vintage Pez dispensers
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It’s time to fish out those old Pez dispensers hiding in your junk drawer! They fetch a pretty penny nowadays with some, like the original Mickey Mouse version, going for as much as $32,000. Nostalgia feels pretty sweet and many people will pay good money to get a dose of it. They remember the fun of popping candies from their favorite cartoon characters.

Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls (Originals)

Cabbage Patch Doll lying in front of a drum kit, cabbage patch kids
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Don’t forget about your early ‘80s Cabbage Patch Kids because they could be worth a lot now, especially the ones with unique, hand-stitched details. They were everywhere back in the day and everyone wanted one. They still do now! Some of the rarest ones command a hefty price that reaches into the thousands as collectors are desperate to get their hands on them.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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