Most Valuable Action Figures of All Time

Generations of kids came of age in the golden age of pop culture-inspired action figures. Most of these toys could bend, twist, fire weapons and sometimes even blink — or talk, which is just creepy and weird. 

Some rare figures carry exorbitant price tags, and then there are those that cost (brace yourself) millions of dollars. Yep, millions. Thankfully, for those of us without Elon Musk-level money, you can pick up some of these valued figures for "only" several thousand.  

These are are the most valuable action figures in the world for you to drool over. But don’t drool, because some of these plastic pieces are quite expensive.

40. 2007 Silver C-3PO

Price tag: $6,200

Note: The source for numbers is Action Figure Resource, Do You Remember? and some of our own previous reporting.

Bottom Line: 2007 Silver C-3PO

Nope, you’re not going colorblind.  This 2007 tiny rendering of C-3PO is silver instead of See-Threepio’s golden hue. 

Only one of this toy was ever produced, making this droid worth his weight in, well, silver.

39. 1978 Star Wars Death Squad Commander

Price tag: $6,500

Bottom Line: 1978 Star Wars Death Squad Commander

If this guy doesn’t look super familiar, it’s because the so-called Death Squad Commander only appeared for a few seconds in the original "Star Wars" in the Death Star’s control room. 

It’s true, you can watch him working levers and pressing buttons shortly before Alderaan goes kablooie. Apparently, Kenner thought better of selling a "Death Squad Commander" to kids, so rather than rename it, the toy was taken out of circulation entirely. 

Hence its value.

38. Anakin Skywalker

Price tag: $7,500

Bottom Line: Anakin Skywalker

After Darth Vader returned to the Good Side of the Force at the end of "Return of the Jedi," he asked son Luke to help remove that scary black mask, revealing the face of Anakin Skywalker, his name before joining the evil Emperor. 

Actor Sebastian Shaw had only a very few lines in the scene (spoiler alert: he dies), but then appeared as a happy Force ghost at the closing bonfire. 

Kenner released an Anakin figurine alongside a commemorative coin, which increased his value.

37. Original Barbie

Price tag: $8,000

Bottom Line: Original Barbie

Barbie figures today can be had for about $20 or thereabouts. Not bad, considering that if you want to get your hands on an original Barbie from the year she came out, 1959, you’re looking at forking over eight big ones for the privilege. 

Think that’s a lot of money? Read on for some really big money spent on Barbie.  

36. 1977 Star Wars Early Bird Certificate Package

Price tag: $9,000

Bottom Line: 1977 Star Wars Early Bird Certificate Package

Kids in May 1977 ran out of movie theaters after watching "Star Wars" screaming "tooooooyyyyyssss!!!!" The only problem was nobody — not even the movie studio — expected "Star Wars" to make much money, let alone that it would be a hit. 

Kenner was promptly hired to make some toys to fill stockings for Christmas. But there was just one problem: The toys weren’t ready! So Kenner produced "vouchers" to redeem for toys in 1978.

Those "Space Club" cards are worth a pretty penny today if paired with all of the figures pictured on the voucher. 

33. Muppets Collector’s Set (Tie)

Price tag: $10,000

Bottom Line: Muppets Collector’s Set

Jim Henson’s absolutely loveable puppet kingdom has entertained the young, the old, the silly and the staid for over a half-century. 

Kermit, Fozzy, Animal, et al., were all fashioned into toy form so that kids could use them to practice making silly voices at home rather than at school (or both). 

A complete set of those Muppets figures would make Kermit change his tune to, "It is easy being green."

33. 1978 Special Action Figure Set of Star Wars Villains (Tie)

Price tag: $10,000

Bottom Line: 1978 Special Action Figure Set of Star Wars Villains

One of the cardinal rules of toy creation is fashioning special sets of multiple items and wrapping them together means instant value.

Cash — er, case — in point is this trio of Darth Vader, the aforementioned Death Squad Commander and a Stormtrooper, which was released together only a few months after the first "Star Wars" flick became the biggest film ever (for a time anyway).  

33. 2007 Gold C-3PO (Tie)

Price tag: $10,000

Bottom Line: 2007 Gold C-3PO

Everyone’s favorite protocol droid who speaks 6 million languages — but who nonetheless is the galaxy’s biggest whiner — has been rendered in toy form many times over the years, including this 2007 iteration, which is cast in 14-karat gold. 

This tiny toy is small enough to get lost in the couch cushions (or chewed up by Fido), so keep him close if you have one.

32. Zen Creations Naruto: Shippuden Naruto Uzumaki

Price tag: $10,105

Bottom Line: Zen Creations Naruto: Shippuden Naruto Uzumaki

"Naruto: Shippuden" was a manga series that ran for 15 years straight from 1999 to 2014 and was followed by a sequel series called "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" that's still going strong. Both shows have inspired toy lines, and the older versions of them are hard to come by. 

This Naruto Uzumaki Ultimate Version action figure is 1/6 scale, and only a few were ever listed on eBay. Those that were listed sold quickly, with selling prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

31. Star Wars Special 3-Pack Imperial Set

Price tag: $10,999.99

Bottom Line: Star Wars Special 3-Pack Imperial Set

Made in the 1980s, this vintage Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back 3-Pack Imperial Set was given a rating of 80, which isn't quite mint condition. The box has wear along the edges and on the corners, but the toys inside were untouched at the time it sold on eBay. 

It was made by Kenner Toys before the company was bought by Hasbro, making it one of the rarer Star Wars action figure sets.

30. Medicom Mickey Mouse

Price tag: $11,200

Bottom Line: Medicom Mickey Mouse

Strangely, finding the reasons behind this action figure's startling price tag proved a challenge.

The urban style Bearbrick figure was made in 2019 in Japan, and it's intended to be a variation of Mickey Mouse. All the figures are made in a similar, blocky fashion, and it appears that not many were produced of each style.

The seller claimed it was a worthwhile investment piece. Considering how much someone shelled out for it, he must have been right.

29. Empire Strikes Back Medical Droid FX-7

Price tag: $11,500

Bottom Line: Empire Strikes Back Medical Droid FX-7

Palitoy made this toy figure of the droid that nursed Luke back to health after his escape from the Wampa on Hoth, but if you ask us, the Medical Droid FX-7 looks way more like a mechanical jellyfish than anything "helpful."

And like most things medical-related — especially without insurance — the FX-7 is actually very expensive on the secondary market.     

28. 1979 Boba Fett

Price tag: $12,000

Bottom Line: 1979 Boba Fett

Quick, without looking at your notes, when did Boba Fett enter the "Star Wars" universe? If you answered "The Empire Strikes Back," then you are wrong.

Actually, the Mandalorian bounty hunter first showed up in the much-derided (and rightly so) "Star Wars Holiday Special," where he appeared in a short animated segment that is much better than absolutely anything else in that revolting TV program. 

A toy was put out to coincide with that early cameo.  

27. 2010 Boba Fett

Price tag: $12,000

Bottom Line: 2010 Boba Fett

What makes this particular Boba Fett figure so valuable? Well, for one, it’s cast in 14-karat gold, which is one helluva bounty to pay, even for the galaxy’s masked warrior. 

This Boba Fett was produced as part of a collector’s set and was also released with a certificate of authentication.

Happy hunting.

26. Babe Ruth (McFarlane)

Price tag: $13,600

Bottom Line: Babe Ruth (McFarlane)

The Bronx Bomber was admired by many baseball fans during his illustrious career, and he continues to be among the most famous ballplayers even 75 years after his death. 

McFarlane Toys’ "Sports Picks" line got in on the swinging action by making this figurine of the Babe.  However, there are only five — total.

Hence the sticker price.

25. 1982 Masters of the Universe He-Man

Price tag: $14,595

Bottom Line: 1982 Masters of the Universe He-Man

In the Masters of the Universe franchise, He-Man is the strongest man in the entire universe. Given an AFA rating of 80, which is considered near mint condition. 

He was originally released as an action figure in 1982 as part of wave 1 of all Masters of the Universe toys produced.

The toy, which can be twisted to launch realistic punching action, was originally only $4.99.

23. Homies Series 13 (Tie)

Price tag: $14,800

Bottom Line: Homies Series 13

Homies, a series of small, plastic action figures, represent a long list of Chicano Mexican-American characters. The toys were invented by David Gonzales based on a comic strip he authored.

They were first launched in 1998 and were popular prizes at grocery store vending machines.

The set pictured above was a limited edition signature box set with 24 figurines from 2003, and it's hand-signed by David Gonzales himself.

23. 1986 Transformer G1 Hasbro Autobot Sky Lynx (Tie)

Price tag: $14,800

Bottom Line: 1986 Transformer G1 Hasbro Autobot Sky Lynx

We hope you kept your old Transformers toys, '80s babies. This 1986 Transformer G1 Hasbro Sky Lynx was sold in nearly new condition with the stickers and poster in their original sealed pack.

The Sky Lynx toy itself can shift from a space shuttle into two small robots shaped like a prehistoric bird and a lynx. It comes with a battery-powered motor that propels the toy forward, either on wheels or on legs when in "lynx" mode.

While that may not sound impressive today, it was state of the art when it came out in 1986. 

22. Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Space Jam a New Legacy LeBron James Stretch Toy

Price tag: $14,802

Bottom Line: Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Space Jam a New Legacy LeBron James Stretch Toy

Heroes of Goo Jit Zu toys aren't vintage by any stretch of the imagination. They're still listed at Target and other major retailers, but none are actually available to order or pick up in-store.

First sold in 2010, Heroes of Goo Jit Zu figures are rubbery characters filled with squishy goo, and a limited number of each character is released at a time. 

While the LeBron James stretch toy just came out in 2021, it's almost impossible to find in any stores. As a result, prices have skyrocketed on online auction sites. 

21. LeBron James Head with Balding

Price tag: $14,900

Bottom Line: LeBron James Head with Balding

Buckle up, folks. This action figure, or part of an action figure, rather, comes with a shady history. Film critics were unimpressed by LeBron James’ "Space Jam: A New Legacy," but collectors were instantly obsessed with the series of LeBron James action figures released in conjunction with the film.

They were so obsessed, in fact, that some of them have made a hobby out of stealing heads of the figurines and listing them on eBay. Technically, it's possible for someone to purchase a figurine and then sell its parts, so we'll give this seller the benefit of the doubt.

Every head listed on eBay is going for at least $1,000, going all the way up to nearly $15,000. It's bizarre that so many people are willing to spend so much on what's basically a broken toy.

19. 1983 Mattel Masters of The Universe He-Man (Tie)

Price tag: $15,000

Bottom Line: 1983 Mattel Masters of The Universe He-Man

Masters of the Universe birthed numerous action figures, and some are more valuable than others. While this version of He-Man was made a year later than the one listed previously on this list, it was given a higher AFA grade of 85. Because of this, it's considered slightly more valuable.

In this case, it sold for about $500 more than the similar action figure from 1982 with a rating of 80. From the same series, action figures of He-Man's sister She-Ra and his nemesis Skeletor are also valuable collectibles.

19. Elastic Batman (Tie)

Price tag: $15,000

Bottom Line: Elastic Batman

The Caped Crusader was never more flexible than in this toy iteration, in which the Dark Knight tried his absolute hardest to be like fellow comic book hero Plastic Man. 

In order to possess this stretchy Batman, you’ll also need some rather serious flexibility in your bank account, and only two are known to still be out there.  

18. Lego Millennium Falcon

Price tag: $16,000

Bottom Line: Lego Millennium Falcon

This Lego set from 2007 comes with some 5,000 pieces which, when put together in the right order, will form Han Solo and Chewie’s trusty outer space getaway cruiser. 

Nowadays, much like the Falcon itself, it’s difficult to get your hands on one of these rather rare Lego sets — even with a tractor beam.  

17. 1993 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Scratch

Price tag: $17,999.99

Bottom Line: 1993 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Scratch

Scratch, the evil cat from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is even more fun in action figure form than he is in the animated show.

The fully articulated "Ultimates" line action figure features interchangeable heads and hands and his sneaky sidekick, Jail Bird. 

Made in the 1990s, all Scratch action figures are rare and valuable. 

16. G.I Joe Manimals Vortex Figure

Price tag: $20,000

Bottom Line:  G.I Joe Manimals Vortex Figure

Duke, Shipwreck, Snake Eyes and the rest of the Joes have tangled with some rather nasty foes over the years, mostly over at Cobra, and many of them were seriously memorable. 

The Manimals, however, were a different story. Hasbro’s creations didn’t really catch on with kids, and the toy line was quickly discontinued. 

Keep your eyes out for the Manimal called Vortex: Though he’s just a piece of plastic, he’s worth 20 grand in mint condition.  

15. Original Superman

Price tag: $25,000

Bottom Line: Original Superman

He leaps over tall mountains in a single bound, runs faster than a speeding bullet, is more powerful than a locomotive, and fights for truth, justice and the American way. 

Supes debuted in Action Comics in 1938, and the original figurines of the Man of Steel came along a few years after. 

So did the Second World War, which may explain why the original S-man toy is so rare.

14. Luke Skywalker With Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

Price tag: $25,000

Bottom Line: Luke Skywalker With Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

Did anyone at Santa’s workshop — er, Kenner — even bother to watch the original "Star Wars"?  You know, the one where Obi-Wan gives Luke his father’s lightsaber, which was blue.  

Seriously, was the figure designer at Kenner color-blind or something? How else did Luke get himself a yellow lightsaber?!  

13. Jawa With Vinyl Cape

Price tag: $28,000

Bottom Line: Jawa With Vinyl Cape

Look closely at the getups of those rascally Jawas, and you’ll see they are clearly made of ordinary cloth. Toymakers at Kenner didn’t get the memo and released a toy Jawa decked out in a rather righteous vinyl cape. 

Thus, the original version of the caped-up junk dealer is one of the most prized treasures for ravenous "Star Wars" collectors.

12. Darth Vader With Telescoping Lightsaber

Price tag: $30,000

Bottom Line: Darth Vader With Telescoping Lightsaber

Yet another mistake from the well-meaning — and equally as misinformed — toymakers from Kenner. For not only did the Dark Lord of the Sith not have a purple lightsaber, he certainly didn’t have one of those telescoping gizmos. 

It was too late by the time Kenner yanked the incorrectly armed Vader by the cape from the shelves as several had already found their way into the homes of eager young Jedis.  

11. Michael Lau’s Gardener Uncle

Price tag: $35,000

Bottom Line: Michael Lau’s Gardener Uncle

Hong Kong’s own Michael Lau has some serious artistic chops, and he also loves "G.I. Joe." At the end of the last century, Lau created a series of "Gardener" figures that melded his love of both street art and the aforementioned Joes. 

This rather surly-looking fellow, called "Uncle," is based on a comic strip of which Lau was a fan — and the figure "commands" a pretty price.

10. Transformers Generation 1 Collection

Price tag: Up to $40,000

Bottom Line: Transformers Generation 1 Collection

Amazing things happen when Transformers team up to fight the Decepticons, and even more wondrous events come down the pike when their toymakers team up. Case in point is this 1984 creative collaboration between Japan company Takara Tomy and the American toy firm Hasbro. 

The toymakers spent a great deal of time detailing the figures — so much so that the entire collection runs $40,000.

9. Vlix (in Original Packaging)

Price tag: Up to $60,000

Bottom Line: Vlix (in Original Packaging)

If you don’t recall Vlix from the short-lived "Star Wars" animated series "Droids," well, don’t feel bad. The cartoon only had 13 episodes, thus not really giving audiences much of a chance to get to know the aqua-skinned alien Vlix. 

Thus, Vlix figures, out of the package, start at around $5,000, but if you have an original unopened Vlix toy in the basement, you can trade him in for an Audi (or two).  

8. 1977 Obi-Wan Kenobi With Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

Price tag: $76,000

Bottom Line: 1977 Obi-Wan Kenobi With Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

Remember when Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi whipped out a yellow lightsaber with two blades to take on Darth Vader? Neither do we.

So before the toymakers could fix their mistake (even the most common nerd knows Ben’s saber was blue), yellow saber-sporting Kenobis were already on the market. 

And really, at 76K, shouldn’t his lightsaber be, ya know, green?!

7. Rocket Firing Boba Fett

Price tag: $150,000

Bottom Line: Rocket Firing Boba Fett

The coolest and most mysterious bounty hunter from that galaxy far, far away knows how to negotiate a bargain, but would even he laugh at the price tag of $150,000 on his own head? 

Only if he has the aforementioned rocket launcher on his pack, the bounty for which might even make Boba Fett’s eyes bulge out from behind his Mandalorian mask.   

6. 1959 Barbie Doll Set

Price tag: $161,000

Bottom Line: 1959 Barbie Doll Set

Why own just one Barbie when you can have the doll in nearly all of her various incarnations since 1959? 

This set of 15,000 Barbies (no, that’s not a typo) is in the possession of one Bettina Dorfmann of Germany and has been appraised at $161,000.  

5. Steiff Limited Edition 'Diamond Eyes Bear'

Price tag: $193,000

Bottom Line: Steiff Limited Edition 'Diamond Eyes Bear'

For the 125th anniversary of the Teddy bear in 2013, the German company Steiff produced this one-of-a-kind 125-karat ursine. 

No wonder he’s smiling as he’s blinged out with sapphire eyes and a golden mouth too. 

Das ist sehr schön, nein? Translation: That's very nice, no?

4. G.I. Joe Prototype

Price tag: $200,000

Bottom Line: G.I. Joe Prototype

The original greatest American hero carries with him a truly heroic price. This prototype figure from 1963 was created by Don Levine and was fashioned as the template for many, many G.I. Joes who came thereafter. 

However, there can only ever be one "first," and possessing him requires big-time buckos.

3. Diamond-Encrusted Barbie

Price tag: $302,000

Bottom Line: Diamond-Encrusted Barbie

Barbie has always been a stylish lady since bursting onto the scene in 1959, and she’s worn many hats over her six decades.

But no hat — er, necklace — in Barbie’s wardrobe comes even close to the 1-carat diamond necklace that this figure fashioned by Stefano Canturi in 2010 wears. 

Ken better start saving up his bubblegum money to take this blinged-out Barbie on a date.

2. Madame Alexander Eloise

Price tag: $5 million

Bottom Line: Madame Alexander Eloise

She was initially created to raise money for charity, but Madame Alexander Eloise could likely fund Amnesty for a year on the resale market.

There are only five known to exist in the entire world, each outfitted with Christian Dior and Oscar de la Renta attire, as well as Harry Winston diamonds and Swarovski crystals. 

That’s some extraordinary bling for a pint-size gal.

1. L’Oiseleur Doll

Price tag: $6.25 million

Bottom Line: L’Oiseleur Doll

Nope, L’Oiseleur doesn’t translate to "how much???” but simply to the "bird trainer." Most action figures have a few moving parts, but this showy doll, created by Christian Bailly, has over 2,000.

Her cogs and gears make L’Oiseleur play the flute and even watch as birds circle overhead, thus making L’Oiseleur less of an action figure than an autonomous money pit of extraordinary proportions.