Totally Rad ’80s Collectibles That Are Now Valuable Treasures

It's hard to tell exactly what makes an item worth a lot more than its initial price as the years go on. Be it a sense of nostalgia, unique packaging, marketing, or something else entirely, many items seen as collectibles become nothing more than shelf-fillers decades later. As for the '80s, many toys and other items exploded onto the scene and were quickly bought up by consumers. Hindsight is 20/20, however, and many of those perceived gems turned into nothing of value. There are other items from the '80s, however, that are now worth a fortune. 

The '80s were a big time for toys and video games. As such, many of the most valuable items from the period come from those arenas. What makes or breaks an item's future resell value, however, comes down to how untarnished they appear decades later. The most valuable items on this list often remain sealed, mint-condition, or flawless. Nevertheless, some items retain or gain value regardless of condition. In this article, we will explore items from the '80s that are now worth a fortune. 

To compile a list of items from the '80s that are now worth a fortune, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of entertainment, collectible, and video gaming publications including Moneywise, and TheGamer. Next, we selected items from the '80s from a diverse background of industries that sold for considerable prices in the modern world. After that, we confirmed aspects of each toy's provenance and history using sites like LiveAuctioneers.com. (For items from the previous decade, discover items from the '70s that are now worth a fortune.)

One of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is the "Red Sea Crossing" game for Atari. While many games came out for the original Atari video game system, some of them became collector's items. One such game is "Red Sea Crossing," where players direct Moses to part the Red Sea, avoid pursuing Egyptians, and more. Considered one of the rarest games ever made, only two legitimate copies have ever been found as it originally saw release strictly through mail order. A few years ago, a copy of "Red Sea Crossing" sold for $10,400.

Long before comic books exploded into a multibillion-dollar movie business, shows like He-Man carried the graphic torch. If you followed his lead and held onto original He-Man action figures from the 80s, you could come into a fair amount of money. An original He-Man Action Figure sealed in its original packaging recently sold for $3,135. Furthermore, a sealed toy box of He-Man's nemesis, Skeletor, called the Laser Light Skeletor, sold for $2,240.

Another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is certain Indiana Jones Action Figures. The blockbuster movie series provided a hero figure for countless children across the world, so it comes as no surprise various action figures bearing his likeness saw release. What is surprising, however, is how much one of these action figures can net. A factory-sealed 1983 Indiana Jones Action figure recently sold for $950. Give it a couple of years, and these toys are guaranteed to be worth even more.

Amongst the hallowed halls of video game history, one item holds an especially sacred place, the Original Game Boy handheld video game system. Released in 1989, this small but formidable gaming system instantly changed the game. Even a few decades later, it remains a seminal moment in video game history and inspired countless video game systems that saw release after the fact. As with many of these items, a used original Game Boy won't sell for much. However, if you have an unopened Game Boy package, you could be looking at a fair bit of cash. An Original Game Boy in its unopened packaging sold for $780.

Another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is certain early 80s Cabbage Patch Kids. Upon initial release, the Cabbage Patch series of dolls was a smash hit, selling out across the country. Just because they were the best-selling toy for multiple years in the 80s, however, doesn't mean they are overproduced and worthless. Quite the opposite, in fact, as Cabbage Patch Kids dolls in good condition from the early to mid-'80s now sell for a fortune. One such doll, complete with packaging its original birth certificate/adoption papers sold recently for $900.

Another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune are collections of G.I. Joe action figures. While these toys originally saw release in the mid-1960s, Hasbro revamped the series in the 80s, adding an extensive background to the figures as well as vehicles, playsets, and more. The revamped releases were so extensive, that Hasbro began selling collections of them often with unique packaging. If you held on to any of these collections and kept them in good condition, they might be worth a fortune today. One seller recently sold a 253-piece G.I. Joe collection, complete with accessories, for $2,500. Even if you don't have that big of a collection, smaller sets still sell for between $500-1000.

Another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is American Girl Dolls. Initially released by Pleasant Company in May 1986, the American Girl line featured 18-inch dolls of various ethnicities, complete with books that told the story of each doll's life. The success of the original American Girl series led the Pleasant Company to release even more variations of the dolls, with unique eye colors, fashion choices, and supplemental background information. While a contemporary American doll sells for pretty pennies (an average of $150), older models can net you even more. Ones from the original 1986 run, like Molly, Samantha, or Kirsten sell for over $1,000. A recent sale of one of these initial American Girl dolls sold for $1,182.67.

(For other uniquely '80s styles, discover fashion fads from the '80s we will never see again.)

While classic comic books are well-known collectibles, some specific ones from the '80s are now worth a fortune. Plus, given the amount of kids into comic books in the 80s, there's a good chance you might have one of these issues lying around somewhere in storage. For example, one of the original Daredevil comics currently sells for exorbitant prices. Furthermore, Daredevil comic issue 168. recently sold at auction for more than $1,000. This isn't the only comic from that era to sell high these days, however. A copy of the Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1. comic book from 1984 recently sold for over $3,000.

Speaking of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is quality, unsealed copies of the series' original action figures. The series exploded onto the mainstream upon release, becoming a hit with children everywhere. This spawned countless remakes, adaptations, and other transmissions of these mischievous but lovable mutant turtle crime fighters with a love of pizza. Plus, it taught kids the names of classical painters as all the turtles bore such namesakes. If you managed to keep an unsealed copy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action figures since then, you could earn a fair bit of money. One recently sold for $400. Word is, full unsealed collections featuring all of the turtles could net you even more.

Another one of the items from the '80s now worth a fortune is certain Thundercats Action Figures. Based on characters from the hit cartoon from the mid-eighties, these cat-like alien humanoids caught the attention of children the world over. In response to the show's success, numerous action figures bearing the characters' likenesses were released. One of the most popular characters was Lion-O. The toy of this character, especially in its sealed, mint-condition packaging, can sell for hundreds of dollars.

One such unsealed Lion-O action figure recently sold for $560.00. People's love for the Thundercats remains unquenchable, however, as the series keeps being updated and adapted for modern audiences. Given the enduring nature of the series, there's no question that Thundercat-related toys and memorabilia will be worth even more in the future.

(For valuable items from the next decade, discover hidden gems from your '90s childhood that could pay off today.)