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The ’80s and ’90s get a lot of hype, but us millennials were positively thriving in the 2000s. Once we discovered that all the computers in the world would not crash and end civilization as we knew it at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1999, we collectively went full steam ahead. The fashion. The music. The movies. The toys. What a time to be alive.
Whether you were desperately trying to keep your Tamagotchi alive, glued to your Nintendo Game Boy, or rocking your CASIO Baby-G watch at the mall, chances are you felt so damn cool. Flash forward 20-plus years and if you’re anything like us, those vintage toys are likely gathering dust in a box now somewhere deep in Grandpa and Grandma’s attic.
If that’s the case, you’re gonna want to pay attention because some vintage toys worth money could be sitting on your shelf right now. Yes, really. What’s old is new again and while a Beanie Baby may have only cost $5 growing up, certain ones could fetch as much as $20,000 today.
Vintage Toys Worth $200–$400
1. Tamagotchi
This digital “pet” was one of the most addictive toys of the decade. Originally released in Japan in the late 1990s, it made its way over to the States in the early 2000s and exploded in popularity. According to CNN, over 82 million were sold worldwide in its 25 years on the market.
The tiny “egg” was attached to a keychain, so kids could easily take it anywhere with them. Once the egg “hatched,” it was your responsibility to keep it alive (a challenge, we are sad to say, we rarely excelled at). But if your Tamagotchi is still alive and thriving, it could be worth a lot now. This rare 2004 version is selling for $225!
2. Disney’s Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House
Miley Cyrus shot to fame in 2006 as the star of Disney’s Hannah Montana, a sitcom about a teenage girl named Miley Stewart living a double life as pop star Hannah Montana. Naturally, the show was a big hit — and so were all the associated toys. One in particular was the Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House, the perfect hideaway for a celeb trying to fly under the radar. If you still have one of these in good condition, it could be worth as much as $200.
3. Barbie and Ken Doll Set from Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3
Released in 2010, Toy Story 3 was a mega-popular animated film about toys that come to life when their owner is not around. While the stars of the film are undoubtedly Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Barbie and Ken play a fun role as well. This rare doll set of their characters is not only in mint condition, but it’s in its original packaging (and will set one future owner back nearly $360).
Vintage Toys Worth $300–$900
4. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Dolls
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen may be best known to today’s kids as fashion icons and nothing else, but us real ones will never forget how they dominated our childhoods. We had grown up with them on Full House, watched them solve crimes on The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley, and in the 2000s we were gifted with such cinematic classics as Winning London, Holiday in the Sun, and Our Lips Are Sealed.
They had tons of toys made in their likeness, but if you own this particularly rare set of dolls, they could fetch as much as $308.
5. T-Mobile Sidekick
Millennials were the first generation to grow up with cell phones, and while kids today would scoff at how positively archaic the original versions may seem now, we thought they were the coolest things ever. The best one of all? The T-Mobile Sidekick.
Originally released in 2007, the Sidekick was marketed to a younger generation and was the first time we were able to access the internet without a computer. Naturally, it was significantly more fun to use (and look at) than your parent’s BlackBerry or Palm Pilot. Even 14 years later, it’s still so cool you can sell them for as much as $300.
6. Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards
For anime fans, there was nothing quite like the high of collecting and trading Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in the ’90s and 2000s. There’s still tons of nostalgia around these well-loved cards and characters, which is why if you are still holding on to your collection, you may want to look into its worth now. Certain cards that are more rare — like this original 2002 Blue Eyes White Dragon card in mint condition — are worth just under $800.
7. HASBRO’s White Passionfruit Furby
There’s nothing quite as enjoyable when you’re young as a furry, talking toy. And of all the furry talking toys, Furby was the most popular. In just three years, 40 million Furbies were sold, making it the It Toy of its time. According to Bustle, the Furby was inspired by another top-selling vintage toy on our list, the Tamagotchi.
Unfortunately for the makers of Furby, the toy’s popularity was fleeting and sales quickly died off. Fortunately for collectors though, more rare editions (in good condition) of this special little furball could net you as much as $850 today.
Vintage Toys Worth $1,000 and Up
8. Barbie Collectibles Limited Edition Marie Antoinette
Barbie is the most iconic doll in history, with its first model debuting in 1959. In that time, a number of limited edition takes on the classic doll were debuted, including the Marie Antoinette Barbie Doll in 2003. The extravagent vintage toy, modeled after the legendary former Queen of France, is decked out in a regal blue gown with gold lace and even carries a handcrafted porcelein pair of roses, according to the Barbie Mattel website. If you happen to own one — still in its original packaging — it could be worth a whopping $1,550.
9. Hot Wheels Highway 35 World Race Track Set
No matter your age, you’ve heard of Hot Wheels. The #1 selling vintage toy in the world has been around for over 50 years, with 16.5 cars selling every second, according to Hot Wheels Media. While they were huge throughout our childhoods, they were clearly no passing fad. And they’re still in hot demand, with special editions like this Hot Wheels Highway 35 World Race Track Set being sold for an incredible $4,500.
10. Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Limited Edition Gold Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure video game franchise that was hugely popular for decades after its original release by Nintendo in 1986. Wildly addictive, it’s one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time and produced dozens of games and spin-offs. If you happen to own this limited-edition gold Zelda and it’s still in its original packaging, you could net up to $18,000
11. Y2K Beanie Baby
When you hear “vintage toys from the 2000s,” it is impossible not to think of the iconic Y2K Beanie Baby. Sold in 1999, leading up to the new millennium, this limited-edition bear embroidered with fireworks and the (slightly ominous) words “The End” is being sold on eBay for $20,000. Time will tell if it’s truly worth that much to someone, but if you have a collection of Beanie Babies you’re curious about selling, it’s worth checking out this list by Money Inc. of the most valuable Beanie Babies of all time.
