If you're looking to make a little extra cash—or, in some cases, a lot—you might not have to look any farther than your storage closet. Don't give away priceless antiques and family heirlooms. Instead, your childhood toys can earn you a fortune.
Furby
They're staring straight into your soul. These terrifying electronic robotic toys were originally released in 1998. Did you know that brand new Furbies exclusively speak a language called "Furbish," but they start using English words and phrases over time? The stuff of nightmares, truly. Either way, if you held on to an original Furby, they might be worth as much as $900.
Strawberry Shortcake
This well-known cartoon character started off as the face of a greeting card, but the franchise soon expanded to include the Strawberry Shortcake doll, which was distributed via Kenner in 1979. Each line of characters came with freckles, red yarn curls, and a strawberry-printed bonnet. The Plum Puddin' vintage doll set is worth as much as $500 on eBay.
My Little Pony
This line of toy dolls is part of the My Little Pony media franchise, which primarily targeted young girls. Through the 1980s and 1990s, these pastel ponies were flying off the shelves. In 1999, the series came to an end, but it was revived by Hasbro in 2010 as an animated series, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The most valuable ponies for resale were obtained through mail order via "pony points." The Rapunzel My Little Pony and Comb sold for $900.
Lionel's Pennsylvania "Trail Blazer" Train Set
Lionel Corporation was the premier seller of model railroads and toy trains. Lionel trains, which were produced from 1900 to 1969, gained admiration from model railroaders across the globe for their authenticity and attention to detail. This 1934 Standard Gauge is worth a whopping $250,000.
Super Soaker
This iconic water gun hit the toy marker in 1989 after it was created by Lonnie Johnson. The Super Soaker had more power, range, and accuracy than conventional squirt pistols, leading to its widespread popularity. A vintage original goes for $1,000.
Playmobil
Playmobil sets were essentially mini-movie sets. Each set featured a human figure with a unique smiling face called a "klicky." Kids could collect various accessories, including buildings, animals, and vehicles, to build their ideal world. Today, a Playmobil set sells for roughly $800.
Cabbage Patch Dolls
When Cabbage Patch Kids first hit the market in 1978, people went absolutely nuts over them. These soft sculptured dolls are now a major collectible. Pat and Joe Prosey currently own the largest collection of Cabbage Patch Kids in the world; over 5,000 dolls reside in their custom-built Maryland museum. If you're looking to become a collector yourself, the Proseys are willing to part with their collection for an impressive $360,000.
Sega Genesis Console
The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive or Sega Mega Drive outside North America, was released in the U.S. in 1989. Since its release, there have been a number of variations. The Sega Genesis may seem archaic when compared to newer consoles, but it can be sold for around $2,000 on eBay.
Lite-Brite
Ah, Lite-Brite. You might remember the infomercials about this toy. The Lite-Brite consists of a lightbox with tiny plastic pegs of different colors. The pegs slot into a panel and light up to create an illuminated picture, either by using a template or creating an image of our own. If you have one laying around, these artistic devices are worth $100.
Happy Meal Toys
Since 1979, the Happy Meal toy has been an integral part of every McDonald's Happy Meal experience. Some of these small trinkets have proven quite valuable—for instance, the 2002 collection of Disney-themed characters recently sold for $300.
Pez Dispensers
Sugar fiends will be delighted to know that old Pez dispensers, regardless of whether or not they contain candy, might be worth a pretty penny. The Astronaut B, a Pez dispenser made specifically for the 1982 World's Fair, sold on eBay in 2006 for $32,000.
1978 Luke Skywalker Action Figure
Did you know that your Star Wars action figures could be worth thousands? In 2015, the 1978 Luke Skywalker action figure sold for $25,000. Bear in mind, not all Star Wars items are created equal—some are worthless, some are priceless. Either way, may the force be with you.
Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies are cited as the first toys to become an Internet sensation in 1995. These stuffed animals became a major collectible in the later 1990s. Due to the high resale value of particular Beanie Babies, they were soon viewed as a financial investment. A 1997 First Edition Princess Diana Bear can sell for up to $12,000.
Garbage Pail Kids Cards
Although these trading cards were frowned upon by parents, kids loved this grotesque Cabbage Patch Kids parody. If you find any of these cards laying around, you might be able to earn a tidy sum on eBay, depending on the rarity of the card and its condition. One card recently sold for $300—and an entire 1985 Garbage Pail Kids Series One deck was worth $4,000.
Jurassic Park T-Rex
Jurassic Park's recent comeback via the Jurassic World reboot has made the franchise even more popular, meaning that merchandise from the original films is now considered collectible. If you have any toys from the original Jurassic Park era, look for the Jurassic Park Lost World Series One Thrasher Tyrannosaurus Rex—it recently sold for $900 on eBay.
Pokemon Cards
Pokemon cards were once all the rage, and their popularity has been steadily rekindled with the development of Pokemon Go. First edition cards from 1999 to 2000 are worth the most amount of money. For instance, if you happen to find a Pikachu Illustrator Card laying around, you just scored $100,000—but some cards, like the First Edition Shadowless Lightning Energy, might only sell for $1.
Stretch Armstrong
This latex rubber toy is filled with gelled corn syrup, which allows Stretch Armstrong's arms to retain their shape before shrinking back to the original size. People loved the concept of a stretchy action figure—so much so that a vintage Stretch Amstrong recently sold at an auction for $4,000. Others have sold for upwards of $10,000. Talk about stretching your dollar.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Action Figures
In the late 1980s and early 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles blew up pop culture. Originally a comic book series, the franchise expanded into the well-known cartoon series still in syndication today. Mint condition figures can go for $500 apiece, and rare pieces might even be worth up to $5,000.
Hot Wheels
Since they were invented in 1968, Hot Wheels has produced over four billion cars, but certain prototypes never made it to production. If you come across a rare find like the 1969 Volkswagen Beach Bomb, it could be valued as much as $125,000. Special editions and cars based off of movies or TV shows are your best bet for a payday.
Pound Puppies Plush
These popular Tonka toys debuted in the 1980s and grew popular throughout the following decade. Pound Puppies even inspired several animated TV series, including a special and a feature film. First edition Pound Puppies in perfect condition are easily worth $5,000.
Skeletor Action Figure
Masters of the Universe revolves around the eternal conflict between He-Man and the evil sorcerer Skeletor. A mint condition, in-box Skeletor action figure from 1982 is worth at least $2,000. Who knew that an archnemesis could be so expensive?
Vinyl Caped Jawa
It may not look like much, but this little action figure is worth anywhere from $3,000 to $18,000, depending on its condition. The vinyl cape was thought to look cheap and was replaced with a cloth cape, making the vinyl-caped version incredibly rare. The same action figure that cost $2.49 in 1978 has become a collector's item today.
Monopoly
If you own any vintage monopoly boards, you might be sitting on a few hundred bucks. The original hand-drawn version of this iconic board game sold for $146,500 in 2011. This popular game has been translated into 1,144 versions since its inception in 1935.
Game Boy
Compared to the Game Boy, today's handheld gaming systems are much more graphically advanced, but that doesn't mean they embody the same childhood nostalgia. If you find a spare console buried in the attic, don't toss it in the trash. Special editions of the Game Boy, like the Game Boy Light, can sell for over $1,500.
Easy-Bake Oven
Since its introduction in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven has become a staple of American culture. How often did a toy come along that produced something edible? In 2017, it was reported that an original Easy-Bake Oven still in its box can net $300.
Talkboy
This prop for 1992's Home Alone 2: Lost in New York rose to fame after John Hughes and 20th Century Fox requested it be designed for the film; the company then sold a retail version of the cassette player and recorder. If you went out and bought one after seeing it in the hands of Macaulay Culkin, these days, it's worth about $200.
Fisher-Price Push Cart Pete
Push Cart Pete is a vintage toy that dates all the way back to 1936. The character twists its head and body from side to side while pumping its leg to push the cart. This ultra-rare toy was originally sold for 50 cents, but it has since accrued a value of $3,000.
Jurassic Park Figurines
After every Jurassic Park film, a line of toys or series of toy lines was manufactured. Jurassic Park toys flew off the shelves after the original film's release—and these plastic dinosaur action figures are worth $1,200.
Marvel Action Figures
With the MCU's considerable rise in popularity over the past decade, Marvel action figures have become even more valuable, depending on their age, condition, and likeness. The Marvel Cinemaquette Toynami Iron Man Mark 43 recently sold for $2,300 on eBay.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards
This card game is based on the fictional game of Duel Monsters where cards are used for battle. On July 7, 2009, the Yu-Gi-Oh! the card game was named the top-selling trading card game by Guinness World Records. These cards are some of the most valuable collectibles in the world—the Blue Eyes White Dragon card is worth up to $13,000.
G.I. Joe
Every young boy in the 1960s had one of these guys. The name "G.I. Joe" references the generic U.S. soldier; the G.I. Joe also led to the coining of the term "action figure." With such an important history, it's no surprise that a mint condition original 1964 G.I. Joe is valued at $10,000.
First Edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
At first, J.K. Rowling couldn't even find a publisher for what has now grown into the most popular fantasy series around. If you picked up a first edition copy of the series' first book, it could be worth $6,500.
Mario Kart 64
This Mario Kart racing game was developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Critical reception upon release was divisive—critics either loved the game or found it to be extremely disappointing. If you held onto a vintage cartridge of this popular videogame from 1997, it could be worth up to $750 these days.
Barbie
You've certainly heard of Barbie, the fashion doll that has served as a quintessential cornerstone of the American toy market for over fifty years. Since 1959, Barbie has grown into Mattel's largest and most profitable line. You better start digging through the attic—an original Barbie is worth $23,000.
Rainbow Brite Dolls
Rainbow Brite was created in 1983 by Hallmark Cards. The following year, an animated series of the same name first aired. Individually, Rainbow Brite toys sell for around $300. The addition of accessories can hike up costs to upward of $1,000.
Vintage Atari Catridges
Nobody believed it at the time, but the bizarre urban legend surrounding Atari game cartridges was proven true. In 1983, Atari buried hundreds of its game cartridges in the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico. 881 of the cartridges were recovered and sold for $107,000. Atari game cartridges can sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay.
Jem and the Holograms
This cartoon rock-and-roll star from the 1980s was beloved by young girls. Jem and the Holograms followed Jerrica Benton, a music company owner with a songstress alter-ego named Jem. These doll sets, as well as related toys from the franchise and other accessories, are up for $700 on the resale market.
Digimon
Since its creation in 1997, the Digimon franchise has expanded to include virtual pet toys, anime, manga, video games, films, and a trading card game. The cards are considered collectors' items, and an unopened game retails on the resale market for well over $100.
Teddy Ruxpin
This animatronic talking bear hit the shelves in 1985. Teddy Ruxpin was equipped with a built-in cassette tape, which afforded this doll the unique ability to "read" bedtime stories to children. The original Teddy Ruxpin is presently worth over $400 on eBay.
Power Rangers
This series was so popular in the 1990s that Bandai sold over $350 million Power Ranger action figures and toys. Due to its tremendous popularity, original Power Rangers toys aren't exactly in high demand, but if you held on to a limited edition toy, check to see what it's worth. The Power Rangers Lost Galaxy Deluxe 14k Gold Galaxy Megazord sold recently for $1,400.
Transformers
The Transformers franchise has always been a pop-culture staple, but these action figures from the 1980s were quite the hot commodity. A mint condition Transformer still in its box could earn you $2,000.
American Girl Dolls
American Girl dolls were first released in 1986. They portray girls from ages eight to twelve of varying ethnicities, faiths, time periods, and social classes. The three original American Girl dolls, Kirsten Larson, Molly McIntire, and Samantha Parkington, are now discontinued, bumping their value to over $1,000 per doll on eBay.
Spider-Man Comic Books
Spider-Man first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962. If you manage to get your hands on a copy, you'll strike some serious gold. One copy recently sold for just under $48,000 on eBay while the original issue was sold in a 2011 auction for—drum roll please—$1.1 million. Someone's Spidey-senses must have been tingling.
Pokemon for Game Boy
Long before Pokemon Go!, 1998 and 1999 saw the release of Pokemon games for Game Boy. If you happen to be an avid Pokemon collector with an unopened special Pikachu edition of the first generation game, you can list it for $2,999—or, if you have a couple of old game cartridges lying around the house, it's worth a shot to list them on eBay. Recently, a collection of 23 broken game cartridges sold for $150 on the auction site.
Masters of the Universe Eternia Playset
He-Man and Skeletor duke it out in this playset depicting Eternia, the planet on which Masters of the Universe is set. A playset in pristine condition can go for $1,900. By the power of Grayskull...
Legos
These plastic construction toys have seen all sorts of adaptations, including The Lego Movie and all subsequent sequels and spinoffs. Some Lego sets have increased by 12% in value since 2000. By comparison, the price of gold has only increased 4.1%. Recent reports have found that the Star Wars Lego sets are the most valuable; a First Edition Millennium Falcon is worth $4,000.
Wun-Dar He-Man
Once a free giveaway with the purchase of Wonder Bread in the 1990s, this Wun-Dar He-Man is now worth $1,000 on eBay. In 2008, a He-Man action-figure line was released. Thie line combined elements from the He-Man universe by adding a comprehensive storyline and biography on the packaging of the figures, including Wun-Dar He-Man.
Toy Biz X-Men Action Figures
Toy Biz was the first company to create a Deadpool action figure. This figurine was part of the Marvel Legends line, featuring 6-inch versions of popular Marvel heroes. If the item is still in the packaging, the X-Men line ranges from $50 to $200.
First Edition of Where the Wild Things Are
This 1963 children's book has been adapted numerous times, including a recent 2009 film adaptation by Spike Jonze. In total, Where the Wild Things Are has sold over 19 million copies worldwide. A first edition of the book signed by the author and illustrator Maurice Sendak is worth $3,176. Even an unsigned first edition can go for $50.
Mighty Max Playsets
This 1992 toy series was similar to Polly Pocket, except it was marketed toward young boys. The toyline mainly consisted of "Doom Zones" and "Horror Heads." While the individual toys aren't incredibly valuable on their own, playsets receive the highest market resale, often going for a few hundred bucks.
Lord of the Rings Action Figures
These Lord of the Rings toys were a result of the impact of the franchise on popular culture. At first, these toys were sold sparingly, making them all the more valuable nowadays. Frodo's horse was worth about $1,200, while a Galdalf playing card in mint condition sold for roughly $500.
Magic: The Gathering Cards
This digital and collectible card trading game was first released in 1993 and has since reached over 12 million players across the globe, including a worldwide community of professional Magic: The Gathering players. The "Power Nine" cards are ranked as the most valuable Vintage cards—the Alpha edition of the Black Lotus card has proven to be worth $13,450.
Polly Pocket
These Barbie-inspired toys were first designed in 1983 and later picked up by Mattel in 1998. Polly Pocket's claim to fame was the unique "Polly Stretch" rubber garments, which could be put on the dolls and removed with ease. If you got your hands on a set between the years of 1989 and 1998, they sell for over $200 each.
Luke Skywalker Action Figure
In 2015, Japanese fashion designer NIGO, the founder of Bathing Ape, recently let go of his Star Wars collection for over half a million dollars, including this extremely rare in-box Luke Skywalker figurine. Only 19 others are currently in existence. The Skywalker action figure sold for $25,000 on its own.
Colorforms
Colorforms were originally composed of simple geometric shapes and bright primary colors on black or white backgrounds, but the line eventually grew to include full-color illustrated play sets with various themes. Colorforms are on the rise in the resale markets—1980s-themed sets like Masters of the Universe, Gremlins, and Michael Jackson retail for $250 to $300.
She-Ra and Swift Wind
She-Ra: Princess of Power was He-Man's twin sister within the Masters of the Universe franchise. She-Ra's horse, Swift Wind, was the equivalent of her brother's Battle Cat Cringer. The original action figure still in-box with Swift Wind sells for $4,000, but the individual figurines are worth $150 to $600, depending on condition and rarity.
Vintage Playmobil
Dollhouse real estate is very real—these miniature homes have a unique market. The Playmobil mass-produced German plastic dollhouses are universally beloved by collectors. This 1995 Victorian Dollhouse is listed for sale at $800, and the knight's castle goes for $649.
Action Comics No. 1
The most expensive comic book ever sold on eBay was this 1938 "Action Comic No. 1" issue. What makes it special? Well, this is the comic that introduced Superman to the world. The issue sold for $3.2 million on eBay. Fewer than 50 copies currently exist.
Six Million Dollar Man
The Steve Austin doll was the heart of Kenner's line of Six Million Dollar Man-themed toys. The action figure stood 13" tall and included several interactive items, like a bionic eye that the user could actually look through, and skin that rolled back to the interchangeable bionic elements underneath. In its original packaging, this toy is worth up to $800 on eBay.
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel has gone down in history as America's number one daredevil. The action figure version of this famous motorcycle stuntman was extremely popular. Between 1972 and 1977, Ideal Toy Company released several Evel Knievel-related merchandise items, which amounted to over $125 million in sales. A factory-sealed Evel Knievel toy can resell for over $300.