Check out these 10 former fad toys that have become favorites among collectors. The "values now" reflect recent prices that vintage items have sold for on eBay.
1. Furby
In 1998, Hasbro introduced the first home robotic toy in the whimsical form of a fuzzy, brightly colored, big-eared owlish creature.
Furby starts out speaking its own "furbish" language before slowly "learning" English. Subsequent models were redesigned after characters in popular movies, including Gremlins, E.T. and Star Wars.
Furbys flew off the shelves in their first three years on the market. Hasbro sold more than 40 million units, in part by translating the toys' patter into 24 languages.
- Price then: $35.
- Value now: Up to $300 for a vintage Furby in the box.
Kiss your credit card debt goodbye
Millions of Americans are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of record-high interest rates. A personal loan offers lower interest rates and fixed payments, making it a smart choice to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. It helps save money, simplifies payments, and accelerates debt payoff. Credible is a free online service that shows you the best lending options to pay off your credit card debt fast — and save a ton in interest.
Explore better rates2. Tickle Me Elmo
Fans of “Sesame Street” were delighted in 1996 when Tyco introduced a plush take-home version of series character Elmo that vibrated and giggled when touched.
Tickle Me Elmo proved so captivating to America when it was featured on The Rosie O’Donnell Show that the little red guy set off a shopping frenzy.
Elmo’s debut supply of 1 million sold out in just six months.
- Price then: $28.99 (though scalpers sold them for up to $1,500).
- Value now: $20-$50 for an original Elmo in the box.
3. Hot Wheels
In some households, the miniature Hot Wheels toy cars were so thick you couldn’t navigate your way through the shag carpeting without stepping on one.
The palm-size favorites took off from the moment they hit town in 1968, and on through the introduction of the limited-edition Treasure Hunt series in 1995.
Hot Wheels' hotness among collectors continues to increase full throttle.
- Price then: under $10.
- Value now: $5,000 or more for collections and even some individual cars.
Discover how a simple decision today could lead to an extra $1.3 million in retirement
Learn how you can set yourself up for a more prosperous future by exploring why so many people who work with financial advisors retire with more wealth.
Discover the full story and see how you could be on the path to an extra $1.3 million in retirement.
Read More4. Barbie
Whether you love her as the original '60s teen queen or diss her for the unrealistic physical expectations she imposed on young girls, Barbie stands out.
The breakthrough doll made the Mattel toy company monstrously successful when she was introduced in 1959.
Since then, Barbie has embraced numerous fashions (including punk rock) and accessories, and has generated spinoff doll lines for her boyfriend Ken, sisters Skipper, Stacie and Chelsea, and even her pets.
- Price then: $3.
- Value now: Up to $5,200 for a vintage Barbie. Specialty Barbie dolls have sold for as much as $302,500.
5. Super Soakers
The brainchild of NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson, Super Soakers use manually-pressurized air technology to create a squirt rifle.
They offer the power, range and accuracy you’ve always dreamed of when immersed in a water pistol fight.
Since their introduction in 1990, 2 million Super Soakers have been sold. Their ongoing popularity continues to bolster the vintage market.
- Price then: $10-$50.
- Value now: Up to $270 for an early Super Soaker.
6. Cabbage Patch Kids
The unofficial doll of the 1980s, Xavier Roberts’ hand-sewn, soft-sculpted cuddlers with the wild yarn hair and irresistible grins created a craze when they were first "put up for adoption" (and yes, they come with their own birth certificates) in 1978.
Several toymakers, including Coleco, Hasbro and Mattel, have manufactured and marketed the endearing kids over the years.
But the dolls from the early generation, crafted by Roberts, remain in highest demand.
- Price then: $10-$30.
- Value now: Up to $900.
7. 'Star Wars' action figures
In 1977, Kenner introduced a line of action figures to accompany the release of the original Star Wars film.
The toy company didn't quite realize how the magic of the film franchise would spread like stardust to Kenner's miniature version of that galaxy far, far away.
Kids (and adult collectors) continue to enjoy a seemingly limitless flow of new characters and space craft with each film sequel. And, the value of many of the original toys still encased in their boxes has grown with the expansion of the movie series.
- Price then: As little as $2.99.
- Value now: Up to $15,000 each, depending on the figure.
8. Garbage Pail Kids cards
The runaway success of the Cabbage Patch Kids almost guaranteed that some sort of spoof version would one day surface, and it happened when the Garbage Pail Kids trading cards invaded the toy aisle in 1985.
Each card features a Cabbage Patch parody character such as Adam Bomb with his exploding head, designed to celebrate considerably darker doll traditions.
The series has continued to this day with "Disg-Race to the White House" cards poking fun at the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
- Price then: $5-$10 per set.
- Value now: Up to $5,000 for collections.
9. GI Joe
Hasbro introduced America’s iconic fighting man in 1964 — and, along with him, the term "action figure."
Young boys could play with their own version of dolls (just don't ever call them that), and GI Joe became a common fixture in their playscapes.
Following the Vietnam War, Hasbro expanded the GI Joe-inspired Action Man franchise globally. Collectors today even hold an annual GI Joe convention.
- Price then: $20-$35.
- Value now: Up to $8,000 per figure.
10. Monopoly
Boardwalk, Park Place, Marvin Gardens — or go directly to jail? Parker Brothers' 1935 introduction of the board game Monopoly brought the dynamics of commercial real estate into America’s living rooms at a most inopportune time: the height of the Great Depression.
Despite the poor timing, the game has proven so popular with families over the years that inventor Charles Darrow’s hand-drawn oil cloth prototype of the Monopoly board sold at a 2011 Sotheby’s auction for a staggering $146,500.
See if mom might have one in the attic that used to belong to your great-grandpa.
- Price then: $2.
- Value now: Up to $700 for a 1935 Monopoly set.
Invest in real estate without the headache of being a landlord
Imagine owning a portfolio of thousands of well-managed single family rentals or a collection of cutting-edge industrial warehouses. You can now gain access to a $1B portfolio of income-producing real estate assets designed to deliver long-term growth from the comforts of your couch.
The best part? You don’t have to be a millionaire and can start investing in minutes.