Before Donating Your Old Barbie Dolls, Check for These 10 Valuable Versions
Since Barbie burst onto the scene in 1959, she’s become something a cultural behemoth — adored, criticized and dissected the world over. Like a true diva, however, she’s only gotten better with age.
Not only did she garner an impressive $6.1 billion for Mattel in 2023 alone, according to Statista Market Insights, but she’s also become a goldmine for collectors.
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Translation: If you have old Barbies lying around, don’t just offload them to your sister’s kid (unless you really like that sister). Selling some of these dolls for their true value could finance your next luxury vacation.
MoneyLion investigated which Barbie dolls currently cost the most money, as well as specific factors driving cost. Check them out below.
Top 10 Most Expensive Barbie Dolls
Without further ado, here are the 10 Barbie dolls commanding the most money.
1. Stefano Canturi Barbie (2010)
Price: $302,500 (per Christie’s)
Jewelry designer Stefano Canturi designed this Barbie to raise money for breast cancer research. Clad in an elegant black dress, this doll wears a necklace with an exquisite Argyle-pink diamond surrounded by white diamonds. As if that wasn’t enough, she also sports a diamond ring on her right hand. (OK, you won't actually find this valuable laying around, but we'd be remiss not to mention).
2. De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie (1999)
Price: $85,000 (per Luxuo)
Mattel collaborated with multinational diamond company De Beers to design this doll in honor of Barbie’s 40th anniversary. In addition to a pink sheer skirt and gold bikini top, she rocks a glamorous belt comprised of 160 tiny diamonds.
3. Original Barbie (1959)
Price: $19,999 (on eBay)
Famously decked in a black-and-white-striped vintage swimsuit, bold red lipstick and some cobalt-blue eyeshadow, this is the Barbie that started it all.
4. Holiday Celebration Barbie (2000)
Price: $11,000 (on eBay)
Created to mark the turn of the century, this limited-edition, Y2K doll dons a voluminous, shiny gold dress with silver tool and presents a Times-Square-inspired-ball embroidered with “2000.”
5. Lorraine Schwartz Barbie (2019)
Price: $7,500 (per Good Housekeeping)
This red-headed Barbie in a stylish, black shawl and body-con dress was designed by famous jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. Her jewelry (including diamond, chandelier earrings and a diamond-encrusted “B” hanging from her waste) is valued at $25,000 alone — making this doll a steal!
6. Karl Lagerfeld Barbie (2014)
Price: $4,900 (on eBay)
With only 900 released, this doll comes outfitted like the Chanel visionary himself in leather gloves, sunglasses and a black blazer.
7. Color Magic Barbie (1966)
Price: $3,000 (on eBay)
This Barbie not only had a unique, color-changing hair gimmick, but she was extremely fragile and had a very short production window.
8. Marie Antoinette Barbie (2003)
Price: $3,000 (on eBay)
Decked in an ultra-wide, sky-blue court dress with gold trim and a matching head piece, this Barbie — the epitome of royal excess — needs no explanation.
9. American Girl Barbie with Side-part (1964)
Price: $1,800 (on eBay)
This Barbie’s chunky headband and colorful striped dress make her 60’s-tastic. She had a limited production run, with very few side-part variations distributed.
10. Pink Jubilee Barbie (1989)
Price: $1,300 (on eBay)
Decked in a pink and silver glittery gown with puffed sleeves, this 80’s-fabulous doll was handed out at a Lincoln Center event in New York City to mark Barbie’s 30th anniversary. Everyone wanted to be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world.
6 Factors Driving Cost
Lyn Rosenblum, associate professor at Otis College of Art and Design, provided the following insight:
Scarcity: Limited quantities command higher prices, therefore driving up demand.
Numbered dolls: These indicate a doll is part of a series which creates added significance.
Exclusivity: Some dolls are made exclusively for a particular retailer or special event.
Pilot dolls: Prototypes that never made it to the marketplace.
Historical significance: These dolls mark notable movements or milestones.
Condition of the box: Dolls with boxes in mint condition will go for more than those in damaged packaging.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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