They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and nothing illustrates this better than the toys, games and collectibles from our childhood. What we once played with and eventually stored away in dusty boxes are now commanding jaw-dropping prices in auctions and online marketplaces. Well, okay, not all toys, but some key ones. From Lego collections to Pokémon cards, the right item in mint condition could fetch a good fortune today. Who knows – maybe McDonald’s will release a super-hot SG60 Happy Meal toy, and it might just turn out to be the kind of investment we didn’t see coming!

It's a reminder of how the value of something ordinary can grow with time, often in ways we never imagined. So, let’s take a nostalgic dive and see which toys are now worth more than pocket money.

1. Tintin Comics (S$200+)

Technically it’s not a toy but growing up, I liked comics. I remember my favourite comics used to cost S$5 a pop from my go-to store at Marine Parade hawker centre. Fast forward to today, an alternative first edition copy of “Tintin In America” changed hands in an auction for €11,000!

In Singapore, “Tintin: The Complete Companion”, the first book to explore all the real-life sources of Tintin’s adventures is listed at S$350 on Carousell.

The book delves into how the author, Herge, found his inspiration behind the characters, scenes and plot. I can appreciate how this would be valuable to Tintin collectors.

2. Happy Meal toys (S$60+)

This brings me back to my first McDonald’s birthday party at Kallang – nothing could beat having balloons, McNuggets and Happy Meal toys when I was five. I remember the Happy Meal craze back in the 2000s, when people queued up for hours over a set of Hello Kitty toys – some even threw away their uneaten meals just for the toys!

A set of these four figurines from McDonald’s Happy Meals are going for S$60 on Carousell, and 33 people have liked this listing. Some toys from the same era are also going for hundreds of dollars – I’ll never question why it’s called a Happy Meal again.

3. Star Wars collectibles (S$1,500+)

Growing up, Star Wars was everywhere — from the toys to reenacting the iconic light saber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, the galaxy far, far away was always a hot topic. While I wasn’t the most die-hard fan, I still remember how my friends’ action figures and endless debates over which movies were hits or misses kept Star Wars in the spotlight.

Now, decades later, some of those action figures have turned into prized collectibles. Take the Star Wars Vintage 1984 Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker action figure in his Jedi Knight outfit — it’s currently valued at S$1,500.

4. Pokémon cards ($5 million)

I remember buying Pokémon and Duel Masters booster packs for S$2 back in the day. After our last class in primary school, we’d rush over to the bubble tea store, get a cup of green apple milk tea with pearls, and start opening booster packs over a plate of cheese fries. But the cards we had never came close to the Pikachu Illustrator card Logan Paul recently bought.

What’s so special about the Pikachu Illustrator cards? In 1998, 39 of these cards were given out to winners of a Pokémon illustration contest. Out of these 39 cards, only eight were awarded a PSA Grade 9 (near perfect condition), and only one was certified PSA Grade 10 (perfect condition).

YouTuber Logan Paul first dropped $1,275,000 on a PSA Grade 9 piece from a fellow collector in Italy, which opened the doors to his ultimate goal of owning a PSA Grade 10 piece. He then made his way to Dubai to procure the PSA Grade 10 card for a whopping $4,000,000.

Hats off to you, Logan, I dare say you’ve caught them all.

P.S. You can still buy a PSA Grade 9 copy on eBay if you’re interested.

5. Video games ($2 million)

Most of us gamers have heard of this one. Black Myth Wukong, an action RPG (Role-playing Game) inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, was released earlier this year. This video game was a hit, and many found the game’s storytelling and visual effects worthy of its S$80 retail price. I don’t usually spend that much on video games, but just wait ‘til you hear the next one.

There are 40 million copies of Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Famicon out there, but a sealed, high-quality copy of this widely popular game sold for $2 million in 2021. A sealed cartridge of The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000 in the same year.

If I were the buyer, I’d keep it in a vault. Sealed within another vault.

6. Hot Wheels (S$660)

I remember strolling along the aisles of Toys “R” Us and ogling at the various Hot Wheels collections as a primary school kid back in the 2000s. They used to go for about S$5, and still do to this day. I really liked their monster trucks and would exclaim “Hot Wheels, beat that!” whenever their ads played on the television channels.

What’s this piece? Prepare for a mouthful. This is the Hot Wheels RLC Heavy Chevy 22nd Annual Collectors Convention Special Edition Nationals.

The 22^nd Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention took place in Los Angeles in 2008, featuring various special edition Hot Wheels collectibles for sale. This special Heavy Chevy’s now going for S$660 and no, I can’t beat that.

7. Barbie dolls ($302,500)

For many of my female friends, receiving their first Barbie doll was a special experience during their childhood. They recall fond memories of dressing the dolls, taking them for a swim and one even cut her Barbie’s hair - not a wise move if you’re hoping your Barbie doll will fetch a handsome price decades down the road. In 2010, a one-of-a kind Barbie created by Australian jewellery designer Stefano Cantauri sold at Christie’sfor $302,500. I never played with Barbie dolls in my childhood and now I’ll just have to live with that regret.

Closer to home, toy company Mattel released its first Diwali Barbie, with only 50 pieces sold in Singapore at $62 each. Checks on online marketplace Carousell show they are now being sold between S$90 and a whopping S$999.

8. Lego Marina Bay Sands (S$2,000)

Released in 2013, this exclusive Lego set of our iconic Marina Bay Sands now goes for about $2,000 on Carousell. For the same price, you could get one night in the Sands Premier Suite overlooking Gardens by the Bay. Which would you rather have?

9. Sports memorabilia ($10.1 million)

My friends and I were quite the sports fans growing up – we played various sports and watched basketball, baseball and football games together. There would often be banter at recess over our favourite  and owning a player’s jersey bearing the name of a star player was a privilege; it made you cool. I’ve always wanted the jerseys of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry from Arsenal, and thought I’d buy them when I started making my own money, but I never knew the value of such jerseys could skyrocket over the years.

To put things into context, Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey, also known as ‘The Last Dance’ jersey, sold for $10.1 million in 2023. The sale, which was administered by auction house Sotheby's, is a record for a game-worn jersey.

You’re in luck if you’re looking for a signed Kobe Bryant jersey – you can get hands on one for S$60,000. Rest in peace, king.

10. Stamps & Commemorative Notes ($8.3 million)

This one-cent stamp from 1856 was a temporary issue made in British Guiana due to a delayed shipment. Though meant to be withdrawn, a single stamp survived, bearing the marks of its illustrious owners, including the French government and John du Pont—a millionaire with a dark history. Its rarity and storied past fetched it a record $8.3 million at auction.

Growing up, my parents would say, “Keep those old bank notes if you come across them — they might be worth something someday.” I took their advice with a pinch of salt, but I have kept some old S$2, S$5 and S$10 notes, tucked away somewhere.

I’ve yet to get into collecting commemorative bank notes, but it’s interesting to observe that they’re quite hot these days. The commemorative S$50 notes to mark SG50 in the image above are going for S$5,500 on the market — that’s a 10% profit if the collector decides to sell it!

With Singapore’s 60th anniversary just around the corner, it makes me wonder if an SG60 commemorative note might be released. If so, it could be another opportunity for collectors to strike gold — or at least add a meaningful piece of history to their stash.

From playtime to pay time

It’s fascinating to see how everyday toys from the 2000s can transform into prized possessions with enough time and care. But these collectibles aren’t just about monetary value – they’re figments of the past, moments we can revisit, and investments we didn’t even realise we were making.

And just like these toys, paving the way for your financial future also takes patience and foresight. Whether it’s securing a steady 3% p.a.¹ growth with savings plans like the Singlife Account or diversifying your portfolio by choosing your preferred sub-funds with investment-linked plans like Singlife Savvy Invest II, the choices we make today often dictate how tomorrow plays out. After all, some treasures are stumbled upon, while some need to be planned for.  

^Notes

^{1. The Singlife Account’s base return is 3% p.a. on the first S$10,000 and 1% p.a. on amounts above S$10,000, up to S$100,000. There are no returns for amounts above S$100,000. The applicable returns will be periodically declared by us. Any revision in the returns will take immediate effect.}

^{These policies are underwritten by Singapore Life Ltd.}

^{Singlife Account}

^{We hereby disclose to you that:}

^{(a) Your relevant money as defined under Payment Services Act (“PSA”) from Singlife Account will be held by us on behalf of you in a trust account opened with a safeguarding institution;}

^{(b) Your relevant money from Singlife Account will be deposited in a trust account together with, and commingled with, the relevant money received by us from our other Singlife Account customers;}

^{(c) There are no foreseeable risks of such commingling and you are able to withdraw your account value anytime via FAST;}

^{(d) The relevant money in the trust account with the safeguarding institution is insured by SDIC. Pursuant to section 23(7)(b) of the PSA, the customers’ relevant money deposited in a trust account is not liable to be taken in execution under an order or any court process, such as in insolvency proceedings. In the event of the insolvency of the safeguarding institution, the Monetary Authority of Singapore may make a regulation under section 103 of the PSA on the manner in which the customers’ relevant money must be treated and dealt with; and}

^{(e) The safeguarding institution is not liable to compensate you for your claims against Singlife.}

^{Singlife Savvy Invest II}

^{As buying a life insurance policy is a long-term commitment, an early termination of the policy usually involves high costs and the surrender value, if any, that is payable to you may be zero or less than the total premiums paid. Investments in this plan are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The value of the units, and the income accruing to the units, may rise or fall. Past performance of the ILP sub-fund(s) is not necessarily indicative of future performance.}

^{Information is accurate as at 14 Feb 2025.}

^{This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.}

^{Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.}