Gone but Worth a FORTUNE: Top 10 2000s Collectibles That Could Make You Rich

The first issue of The Walking Dead comic book series was published in 2003. Back then, you could get your hands on one for just $2.95. Nowadays, a near-mint to mint copy authenticated and graded by the grading company known as CGC can go for nearly $3,000. As for a rare 9.9 graded copy, well, at an April 2024 auction, it sold for a whopping $16,800. Another valuable 2003 comic book originally priced at $2.95 is the premiere issue of Invincible. It tends to sell for at least several hundred bucks in good condition and can push $2,000-$3,000 in exceptional condition.

In pristine condition, a First Edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon Yu-Gi-Oh! card from the 2002 Starter Deck can go for around $7-8,000. A rarer 10 Gem-Mint version of this iconic card sold for $85,100 at a 2020 auction. Not bad, huh? Even the much less rare edition can fetch a few hundred bucks, or even $1,000 if graded in mint condition. Another popular Yu-Gi-Oh! monster is the Dark Magician. According to Professional Sports Authenticator, there are just 82 known graded-10 versions of the first edition Dark Magician card. And they happen to be worth around $7,000 each. Those graded 9 go for closer to $2,000. Besides these, there are some other Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, too, that can help make your pockets fatter.

Marie Antoniette was the last queen consort of France before the French Revolution. Fashion and wealth are two of the more favorable words that have been associated with her over time. And, fittingly, a 2003 limited edition Barbie depicting the controversial historical figure is both classically fashionable and expensive. Along with a porcelain pair of roses in her hand, she wears an old-fashioned regal-blue gown, with golden lace and tassels, plus a matching feathery hat and a stylish rhinestone necklace. On both Amazon and Walmart’s websites, the charming Marie Antoinette Barbie is listed at nearly $3,000. Ebay sales suggest it consistently sells for well over $1,000 in its original packaging. You really do have to pay up for royalty.

A talking, furry little fella called Furby is a classic 2000s toy. What’s fascinating about these guys is not only their adorable appearance, but that they speak their own language: Furbish. In 2005, the second generation Furbies started to be able to respond to humans with a voice recognition system. They first responded in Furbish, but after more use over time, they started using English! In today’s market, the vintage 2005 Emoto-Tronic Passionfruit Furby can sell for good money - well over $100 in its original box. Not bad for something that originally sold for about $40 bucks. Even all this time later, perhaps it could still make for a good birthday present, and a furry, chatty alternative to a real pet.

One example of the countless strides in technology is the Tamagotchi, a handheld digital pet first released in Japan in 1996. The translation in English is ‘Egg watch.’ The genius idea is essentially that after a virtual alien egg hatches here on Earth, you’re in charge of taking care of the creature and raising it. It has a hunger meter, happy meter, and training meter, and is programmed to evolve according to the user’s caretaking decisions. Tamagotchis were a booming hit in the late 90s through the 2000s. The third version, V3, was released in 2006 and can be quite the commodity nowadays, particularly in translucent magenta or pink. These consistently sell for over $100, much more than the original $15 retail value.

Slinging a toy car across the floor or, even better, a track, can be an inexplicably satisfying feeling as a kid. To really maximize that sensation, there may not be many better ways than the Hot Wheels Highway 35 World Race Ultimate Track Set. Long name, long track. Thirty-six feet long, including a few of those epic Hot Wheels spirals and stickers, and even a volcano! This motorized set came out in 2002 as a limited time promotion. While not easy to find, one sold in 2024 for $450 and another one went for $650!

In 2004, Nintendo did a brilliant, unique promo in the UK. They released 25,000 “Zelda Limited Edition Pack” bundles, which included its new game along with a gold Game Boy Advance SP console. Hidden inside just 6 of those bundles was a golden ticket, and not one that gets you a chocolate factory tour. Rather, it was redeemable for a Game Boy Advance SP plated in real 24-karat gold. Given their ultra rarity, it isn’t known just how much these bad boys are worth, but rumors suggest they could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. As for those standard gold Zelda Edition Game Boy Advance SPs, nothing to sneeze at. Those could potentially make you a few hundred bucks richer.

At 33 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 8.3 inches tall, the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon was the largest LEGO set ever at the time of its 2007 release. And its original price of $500 reflected that. Today, an unopened set in mint condition is worth $1,795 according to brickset.com, a website for LEGO fans. According to data from Brick Economy, a site that tracks LEGO set pricing and market values over time, another 2000s LEGO set that’s seen its value rise exponentially is the 8458 Technic Silver Champion. But we’re ultimately going with the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon, as it's currently worth around several hundred dollars more.

There are various Pokémon cards that carry significant value nowadays, such as a version of one of the most famous Pokémon ever: Charizard. The 2006 Gold Star Dragon Frontiers version, not in traditional Charizard orange, is worth around $17,000 if graded a 10. While those are hard to come by, 8s and 9s can still sell for a few thousand bucks. Another Pokémon card, from 2000, has even more profit potential, namely in rare gem-mint 10 condition. We’re talking over $50,000. It’s the 1st Edition Neo Genesis Lugia. Lugia was considered a breakout Pokémon star after the debut of Pokémon the Movie 2000. And today people are willing to pay up to get their hands on the character’s most desirable card.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.


Bratz Wild Wild West Dolls
Some Versions Sell for over $100 Nowadays


Lizzie McGuire Cookie Jar
Vintage Piece That’s Worth over $100


Swarovski Etch-A-Sketch
Extremely Rare Crystal-Studded Drawing Toy Now Worth an Estimated $1,500

As a collectible that took center stage during the late 90s, Beanie Babies were an unequivocal fad. Widespread fascination with these cute stuffed animals was due to a combination of factors. Among those was creativity, in the form of accompanying tags containing a birthday and poem. This plush toy, which captured the hearts of so many individuals, still holds its place for collectors and enthusiasts alike. One highly sought-after Beanie Baby in particular, which is associated with the start of the new millennium, is Ty2K, commonly known as the Y2K Beanie Baby. In mint condition with its original tag, this confetti-splattered white stuffed animal could potentially be worth a few thousand bucks, according to sellyourtoysnow.com. Yes, that much, for a stuffed animal.





Let us know in the comments what 2000s items you used to collect or still collect to this day!