11 things you owned in the 90s that are now worth a small fortune

[JohnS]

Who knew that what you owned 30 years ago could be worth so much these days?

11 things you owned in the 90s that are now worth a small fortune

by Caroline Westbrook

Prepare to feel old… (Picture: Getty Images)

Looking to make a bit of extra cash?

With the cost of living crisis continuing to affect millions, many of us are turning to side hustles to bring in a little extra income, but for others, the solution to making some more money could lie in some of those forgotten items in your cupboard.

Yep, if you grew up in the 90s you may well have bought into every fad going – whether you got the must-have toy for Christmas, amassed a huge collection of videotapes or indulged in a must-have collectors’ item.

And chances are, you probably packed those things away and haven’t looked at them in years.

But some of those items are worth revisiting because now, 30 years on (feel old yet?), as they could be worth a lot more than you paid for them back in the day.

Read on to find out which sought-after 90s items are now potentially worth a fortune – and how much you could get for them.

1. Furby

Creepy or cute? (Credits: Getty Images)

Kicking off this list is one of the most sought-after toys of the 90s, the Furby.

If you were a kid in the latter part of the decade, chances are this might have been on your Christmas wishlist for 1998.

However, if you happen to have an original Furby, a limited edition Furby or a rare one (or you never actually took it out of its original packaging) then you could well be quids in.

How much you’ll get for it depends on the type of Furby and the condition, but some of the older toys are going on eBay for around £100, or as much as £175 if it’s in its original box. Meanwhile the rarer Furbys can fetch even more.

Mental Floss reported that an original 1998 Furby went for $705 (£527) on eBay a few years ago, while Money Digest has said that a super-rare Bejewelled Furby was sold for $6,400 (£4,800) last year.

They have also reported that if you happen to be in possession of the rarest Furby of all – the Rainbow Furby, of which only three of which were ever produced – then you really could be out to make a fortune, although no-one’s actually given any indication of what it might be worth.

2. Pokemon cards

Did you catch then all? (Picture: Getty Images)

Back in the days before Pokemon involved everyone walking around staring at their phone screens in a bid to catch the little critters in the wild, there was another way you could have a whole lot of Pokemon in your life – with trading cards.

These were big business in the 90s (remember when some schools banned them?) as we set out to catch them all – our favourite characters in card form that is – and if you’ve got some of these lying around in a dusty old cupboard you could be in the money.

CNN reported in 2022 that the super-rare 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard card sold at auction for an impressive $420,000 (£321,000) – setting an all-time record – so it’s well worth checking out which cards you might still have, and what their value is.

You never know, you could be holding a fortune in your hands.

3. Harry Potter first edition

There was only 500 copies (Picture: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was originally published in June 1997 and the rest, of course, is history.

But if you were one of the first people to buy a copy of JK Rowling’s original Potter novel, did you know you could have a small treasure sitting on your bookshelves?

The Harry Potter website Mugglenet has reported that a first edition of that original book, complete with original cover art and typos, could fetch as much as $30,000-$50,000 (£22,900-£38,200). With only 500 copies of that edition ever being printed, the chances of you having one might be pretty remote but if you are lucky enough to have a copy then head over to eBay or First Edition Books to see how much you could be sitting on.

4. Super Mario Bros game

An iconic game (Picture: Getty Images)

Let’s be honest, a whole lot of us whiled away far too many hours in the 90s playing Nintendo and one of the most popular games of the decade was Super Mario Bros.

The little Italian plumber and his brother Luigi proving so popular they spawned sequels, a spin-off movie (the less said about that one the better) and even a hit single, courtesy of the Ambassadors of Funk featuring MC Mario. We’re not sure any of those will net you any dough, but owning a copy of one of the original games might.

Back in 2020, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros 3 went for $156,000 (£119,000) at auction, according to CNet – a record which was smashed just a few months later when The Verge reports an unused copy of the original game sold on a collectibles site for a cool $2 million (£1.5 million). That’s a lot of moolah for your Mario.

5. Old Disney VHS tapes

Can you part with those well-worn DVDs? (Picture: Getty Images)

Back in the 90s, before the arrival of streaming platforms, YouTube and CBeebies, your best bet for a spot of small-screen entertainment would have been those family-friendly Disney movies your parents had in their VHS collection.

Chances are they would have been well-worn too, because who wouldn’t have watched The Lion King or Toy Story every chance they got? But who’d have thought 30 years later that those tapes could turn out to be money-spinners?

Mail Online reported back in 2023 that some classic films are going for five-figure sums on eBay – including a rare edition of 101 Dalmatians still in sealed packaging, which was sold for £15,000.

A lot depends on what condition the tape is in, of course, whether or not it’s limited edition or if it’s sealed and has never been played, but it’s worth having a rummage around in that old tape box and checking eBay to see how much yours might be worth.

6. Ghostbusters VHS tapes and memorabilia

The Ghostbusters fandom is still going strong (Picture: Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)

It isn’t just Disney fans who are willing to spend a pretty penny on collectible items; just this month, a factory-sealed VHS of Ghostbusters sold through Goodwill’s online platform for a jaw-dropping $3,806 (£2,941).

The supernatural comedy was released in 1984 while its sequel came out in 1989, so it’s not strictly a 90s thing. That said, you probably had a copy of the Dan Aykroyd classic kicking about in the years that followed – or maybe even some merch from later iterations such as The Real Ghostbusters animated series.

And given the lasting interest in the franchise, it could definitely be worth busting those items out of storage.

7. Polly Pocket dolls

Hours of fun (Picture: Shutterstock)

While Barbie and the like may have continued to be popular throughout the 90s, youngsters and doll collectors also snapped up Polly Pockets – those tiny dolls and their equally tiny houses – by the truckload.

With Mattel having taken over the brand in 1998, the original Pollys, particularly those made between 1989 and 1998, are now worth a pretty (Polly) penny, even more so if you have one that’s all sealed up in its box.

The Mirror reported earlier this year that one set from the decade – the Polly Pocket Beauty Case – fetched £4,800 on eBay, while other sets from the era also brought in four-figure sums when listed. So your Polly could well bring in the pounds too.

8. Beanie babies

Have you got a rare Beanie? (Picture: Shutterstock/The Image Party)

If you were a child of the 90s, the chances are you had one or two of these lying around or you might even have been an avid collector who filled your bedroom with hundreds of the colourful little stuffed bears.

Given their popularity back then, not to mention the many different limited editions and rare bears, it’s no surprise that some of these are now worth money – but how much you could get for yours largely depends on which ones you have.

This Is Money reported last year that there’s no hard or fast rule when it comes to Beanie Baby value, and some may only be worth a few quid at best. However if you have one of the original toys produced – such as Flash The Dolphin or Legs the Frog – you could well net hundreds of pounds for it, while others, such as Chef Robouchon and Mystic The Unicorn have previously sold for as much as £7,000.

However, as with all these things, it will largely depend on condition, colour and and little quirks – such as spelling errors on the tag for example – all of which can bump the selling price up or down.

9. Tamagotchis

The love and attention you gave it could finally be repaid (Picture: Getty Images)

Ever kept a Tamagotchi in your bag or your back pocket? More importantly, have you remembered to feed it, play with it and generally keep the little electronic blob happy if you have?

Well, Tamagotchis are still around these days, having expanded their reach to appear in video games, as well as the 2022 Pixar movie Turning Red, in which lead character Meilin owned a Tamagotchi called Robaire Junior.

But if you were one of those people who nurtured your own electronic pet back in 1996 when they first hit the market, your now adult Tamagotchi could net you a nice little earner. Smithsonian Magazine reported in 2021 that a rare Mobile Kaitsu! Tamagotchi Plus from the era was sold for over $5000 (£3,800) while other similar 90s Tamagotchis can also sell for around the $1,000 (£765) mark.

Only the 90s ones, mind – so if your Tamagotchi is still a 21st Century infant don’t expect a four-figure sum.

10. Happy Meal Toys

The toys you begged your parents for could be worth something (Picture: Getty Images)

Happy Meals aren’t just the stuff of kiddie treats and birthday parties – anyone who’s ever munched their way through one as a child will also know that they come with a toy, usually themed around whatever tie-in promotion the burger chain happens to be running at the time.

What you might not know is that little collectible bit of plastic that you probably shoved to the back of a drawer and forgot about when you got home might now bag you enough money to invest in quite a few Happy Meals.

A lot depends on whether you have the full set of some of the most valuable toys of course, but if you do you could be in luck. Antiques expert Peter Jenkinson from Loveantiques.com told News Shopper last year that the Mario figures from 1994 and 1998 could be worth around £187.78 while Power Rangers toys could come in at even more – around £262 if you have the complete set. Speaking of which…

11. Power Rangers action figures

Mighty Morphin’… (Picture: Getty Images)

Power Rangers remains as popular today as it was back in the 90s, whether you still watch old episodes of the TV series, enjoy the movies or even indulge in a bit of cosplay.

But if you’ve got some of the original action figures from the heyday of the series back in the early 90s, you could well be quids in – especially if they are sealed up and unusued.

A quick look on eBay tells us that currently a full set of the original 1993 action figures, still in their boxes, could go for around £1,350. If it’s not in the box it won’t get you nearly as much, with asking prices ranging from around £30-£60 in many cases, but you could still net yourself a little extra cash for your troubles.

Source: https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/30/11-things-owned-90s-now-worth-a-small-fortune-22812637/

[chris12381]

My brother and I had both the GI Joe Defiant Space Shuttle Complex.  I've seen it sold for thousands of dollars these days.

A photo from Christmas of 1987 featuring 6 year old me and my grandfather as we work to put the space shuttle together. 😉

[Chas.Alpha]

@JohnS I sold a 1967 blond Tele with an original Bigsby for $500. 😔

[Wlu1988]

Well my baseball card collection never did end up buying much for me but it has been interesting to see how that scene has made a resurgence (feels like social media and to a lesser extent the NFT craze from a few years ago were big contributing factors to this). 

[Fuzz]

My comics and comic cards from the 90s have some pretty decent value. Pretty sure I got Jim Lee to sign my X-Men #1 A-E covers, including the black & white backing cards. I really should get some of my 1st editions graded, but it is quite an expensive exercise.

The Bandai GoDaikin Voltes V toy that my parents bought for me in 1984 (which I still have in the original box in very good condition) is valued in the range of about $5k.

[Jack]

The 1990's? Cor, I still wear clothes I bought then...

 

[JohnS]

8 hours ago, Chas.Alpha said:

@JohnS I sold a 1967 blond Tele with an original Bigsby for $500. 😔

Telling you that it would fetch $US6000 to 7000 nowadays is cold comfort. In Europe, I noticed a listing closer to €20000, but that was from a business.

As for me, I almost did the same thing. You see, in 1992 I bought a original 1967 Hofner Model 459 violin guitar second hand from a guitar shop for $AU500. I didn't know what I was buying and I was only just out of university in my first job, so back then that was a lot of money. Years later, a friend convinced me not to sell it. It's not Paul McCartney's famous bass model so there are very few around, as it was a very poor seller (maybe 150 to 200 were sold worldwide). I don't even want to know what it would be worth these days!

[padrinocubano]

Mercedes W 126 S class

560 SEL from 1990, bought in 1993.

[Puros Y Vino]

On 4/15/2025 at 11:51 AM, Wlu1988 said:

Well my baseball card collection never did end up buying much for me but it has been interesting to see how that scene has made a resurgence (feels like social media and to a lesser extent the NFT craze from a few years ago were big contributing factors to this). 

I inherited my brothers' baseball cards from 1970-76. Got some great names in there. Aaron, Clemente, Mays, Rose, etc.  Was surprised to find George Brett and Robin Yount rookie cards. Unfortunately, the cards are the Canadian O-Pee-Chee versions, not Topps. While technically 10x rarer, they are virtually unwanted by US collectors. Still have about 100 key comics. A few from the Silver Age and some limited run or key issues. 1st Spiderman black costume, 1st appearance of Venom, Punisher. 

Some of the new baseball cards are nuts. They look fantastic, lots of limited prints. The 1:1's have been insane. I don't even know who Paul Skenes was before his 1:1 sold for a million. I haven't collected or bought any comics or sports cards in years. The "investment" aspect if overrated unless you pull a hot player/card and get your money now vs trying to hold on to it and see if the player really does pan out, not get injured, etc.

[BrightonCorgi]

16 hours ago, padrinocubano said:

Mercedes W 126 S class

560 SEL from 1990, bought in 1993.

Our family car for decades was an '84 500 SEC (grey market) in the same colors with a blue interior.

[El Hoze]

Snowboards and BMX bikes. I grew up skiing about the the same time I started walking, but started snowboarding when I was 10 during the 1989-1990 season as the resorts began to allow them. All my older cousins were a few years ahead of me. I got a bunch of hand-me-down Burtons from the mid-late 1980s and then became obsessed with collecting the vintage boards I never owned as I got older. Fast forward to today some of these boards are worth thousands upon thousands of dollars depending on the condition and model. I have seen some pretty unbelievable collections. Given the nostalgia, old Burtons tends to fetch the most as well as Winterstick, a cult brand that started making powder-specific boards in Utah in the early to mid 70s even before Burton and Simms. Talk about being ahead of your time. 

I also was into BMX bike racing when I was a kid. Collecting of old 1980s - 1990s BMX bikes (and freestyle to be fair) has driven the prices through the roof. Brands like Cycle Craft, Hutch, PK Ripper and others still have a ton of nostalgia attached I have seen some wacko prices for complete bikes. I actually sold all the frame and fork combos I had. They don’t hang on the wall as well as my old snowboards and snowboarding is still a huge part of my life. 

[Fuzz]

12 hours ago, El Hoze said:

Snowboards and BMX bikes. I grew up skiing about the the same time I started walking, but started snowboarding when I was 10 during the 1989-1990 season as the resorts began to allow them. All my older cousins were a few years ahead of me. I got a bunch of hand-me-down Burtons from the mid-late 1980s and then became obsessed with collecting the vintage boards I never owned as I got older. Fast forward to today some of these boards are worth thousands upon thousands of dollars depending on the condition and model. I have seen some pretty unbelievable collections. Given the nostalgia, old Burtons tends to fetch the most as well as Winterstick, a cult brand that started making powder-specific boards in Utah in the early to mid 70s even before Burton and Simms. Talk about being ahead of your time. 

I also was into BMX bike racing when I was a kid. Collecting of old 1980s - 1990s BMX bikes (and freestyle to be fair) has driven the prices through the roof. Brands like Cycle Craft, Hutch, PK Ripper and others still have a ton of nostalgia attached I have seen some wacko prices for complete bikes. I actually sold all the frame and fork combos I had. They don’t hang on the wall as well as my old snowboards and snowboarding is still a huge part of my life. 

I still have my 1986 BMX Mongoose Expert hanging up in my garage. All parts are original and intact. Just needs a really good clean.

[El Hoze]

36 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

I still have my 1986 BMX Mongoose Expert hanging up in my garage. All parts are original and intact. Just needs a really good clean.

Niiiiice! My neighbor had a chrome Mongoose with green mags and the matching green pads. Funny 30+ years later my buddies and I still all joke about the bikes we all rode growing up. We can still remember every detail yet I can’t remember what I had for dinner three days ago.  

[Fuzz]

Mine looks like this one:

[Chibearsv]

90s was when my daughters were born so I've purchased and been through basically everything pictured in the OP except the Power Rangers figures. It's either all been pitched or destroyed by use since then.

I played a LOT of basketball in the early 80s to early 90s and blew out the soles of bunches and bunches of Air Jordans. The Air Jordans were not very well built shoes. When I see what people pay for them now, I'm floored. I literally busted the sides out of a few pairs a year. The predecessor Nike Air was a fantastic basketball shoe, but I don't see as much hype about those. See what I'm wearing below...I'm the one winning the jump 😁

[KCCubano]

5 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

90s was when my daughters were born so I've purchased and been through basically everything pictured in the OP except the Power Rangers figures.  It's either all been pitched or destroyed by use since then.

I played a LOT of basketball in the early 80s to early 90s and blew out the soles of bunches and bunches of Air Jordans.  The Air Jordans were not very well built shoes.  When I see what people pay for them now, I'm floored.  I literally busted the sides out of a few pairs a year.  The predecessor Nike Air was a fantastic basketball shoe, but I don't see as much hype about those.  See what I'm wearing below...I'm the one winning the jump 😁

Looks like you played for Team Pizza Hut or was the jersey supposed to say USA?

[Ford2112]

My dignity.

[BrightonCorgi]

10 x 30 skateboards of the 80's. Everything got smaller and was never the same.