25+ Most Valuable Barbies of All Time

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Your guide to appraising and selling vintage Barbie dolls, from 90s Barbies to holiday Barbies
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Ever since the first Barbie was launched in 1959, this iconic line of dolls has taken the world by storm. If you have some old dolls of your own lying around your home, there’s a chance you could be sitting on a small pile of cash (we’re talking 100s or even 1000s of dollars)—but appraising your old toys is the only way to know for sure. We’ve done some of the research for you by reviewing the most valuable Barbie dolls on the market currently, so you don’t have to. We’ve even included some tips on appraising and selling your dolls, so you can get the best value for your Barbies.

Which vintage Barbie dolls are worth money?

  1. Stefani Canturi Barbie: $250,000
  2. Diamond Castle Promotional Barbie: $94,800
  3. De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie: $85,000
  4. Original Barbie: $27,000+
  5. Pink Diamond Barbie: $15,000
  6. Lorraine Schwartz Barbie: $7,500
  7. Marie Antoinette Barbie: $1,500+
Section 1 of 4:

Most Valuable Barbies

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  1. Step 1 Stefano Canturi Barbie: $250,000
    Chances are, you don’t have this one-of-a-kind, diamond-studded Barbie collecting dust in your basement—but if you do, prepare for a windfall of cash! Created by jewelry designer Stefano Canturi and released in 2010, this bejeweled Barbie was auctioned for $250,000, though she’s easily worth more money than that.[1]
    • Release year: 2010
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Short black dress
  2. Step 2 Diamond Castle Promotional Barbie: $94,800
    The year 2008 was a big year for cinema, especially in the Barbie universe. To highlight the movie Barbie & the Diamond Castle, Mattel released a diamond-studded Barbie that could allegedly be worth over $94,800 (though it’s never actually been put on the auction block before).[2]
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  3. Step 3 De Beers 40th Anniversary: $85,000
    As another one-of-a-kind bejeweled Barbie, this extremely limited-edition Barbie made by jewelry company De Beers is worth 10s of thousands of dollars (if you’re lucky enough to have her in the first place).[3]
    • Release year: 1999
    • Hair color: Black
    • Outfit: Gold bikini with long pink skirt and orange shawl
  4. Step 4 Original Barbie: $27,000+
    Known for her sharp swimsuit, curly bangs, and iconic side-eye, the very first Barbie is worth around $27,000 if she’s still in the box. It’s okay if she’s slightly used, though—some collectors are willing to pay around $8,000 for even a used version of her.[4]
    • Release year: 1959
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Black and white swimsuit
  5. Step 5 Pink Diamond Barbie: $15,000
    If you’re on the market for a luxurious Barbie, look no further than the one-of-a-kind Pink Diamond Barbie, which authentically lives up to its name. This doll’s attire (and existence) are so valuable, in fact, that you’d have to pay $15,000 to get your hands on it.
    • Release year: 2013
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Pink diamond dress and long pink fur coat
  6. Step 6 Lorraine Schwartz Barbie: $7,500
    This rare, one-of-a-kind entered the Barbie scene in 2010, where the doll was auctioned off for charity.[5] Given how rare this Barbie is, her estimated worth is around $7,500.
    • Release year: 2010
    • Hair color: Red
    • Outfit: Short black dress and scarf
  7. Step 7 Marie Antoinette Barbie: $1,500+
    In 2003, an exquisite, limited edition Barbie recreation of the famous French queen Marie Antoinette was released. Given her rarity, she’s often resold for over $1,500.
    • Release year: 2003
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Large blue and gold gown
  8. Step 8 Happy Holidays Barbie 1997 Brunette Misprint: $1,201
    This ribbon-covered Barbie actually isn’t that pricey when you buy the normal version. However, there are a few rare copies of this 1997 Barbie where the eye color on the back of the box differs with the actual Barbie, which jacks up the doll’s price.[6]
    • Release year: 1997
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Red, white, and gold ribbon-themed dress
  9. Step 9 Devi Kroell Barbie: $1,075
    This rare, one-of-a-kind Barbie was made and sold at an auction for $1,075. If you happen to have this Barbie on hand, you could resell it for a pretty penny![7]
    • Release year: 2010
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Short black dress
  10. Step 10 Color Magic Barbie: $850+
    If you were lucky enough to get your hands on one of the original Color Magic Barbies from 1966, you could be in for a world of cash. Depending on the doll’s condition, the Color Magic Barbie can resell anywhere between $850 and $1250.[8]
    • Release year: 1966
    • Hair color: Blonde or brown
    • Outfit: A yellow, green, white, and pink patterned top with pink pants or a yellow, blue, white, pink, and green argyle romper
  11. Step 11 Harvey Nichols Special Edition Barbie: $650
    This special edition Barbie is nostalgically and financially valuable, with people reselling their dolls anywhere between $650 and $900.[9]
    • Release year: 1995
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Pink jacket and black skirt
  12. Step 12 Francie Barbie: $650
    The Francie Barbie line came out in the 1966 and featured Barbies with different skin tones, hair colors, and outfits. The “Barbie Francie and Her Swing’ Separates” line specifically can sell for extremely high, with a minimum resale value of $650.[10] Other Francie dolls can sell for over $1,000 on marketplaces like eBay.
    • Release year: 1966
    • Hair color: Brown, brunette, blonde, and red
    • Outfit: Colorful clothing with bright
  13. Step 13 City Smart Barbie: $650+
    This sharp-looking Barbie sells for at least $650, but can net you as much as $1,151 (depending on the doll’s condition).[11]
    • Release year: 2003
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Knee-length black dress
  14. Step 14 Centennial Barbie Alpha Kappa Alpha: $445+
    This decked out Barbie is as beautiful as she is valuable, with a resale value between $445 and $1,526.[12]
    • Release year: 2008
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Long green and pink dress
  15. Step 15 Golden Gala Barbie: $375+
    The beautiful Golden Gala Barbie lives up to her name, sporting a long, golden evening gown and a matching gold jacket. This Barbie tends to sell between the $375 and $1,450 range, depending on her condition. Another model of this Barbie with darker skin and hair can sell for as much as $450.[13]
    • Release year: 2009
    • Hair color: Blonde or black
    • Outfit: Long gold dress
  16. Step 16 Pink Jubilee Barbie: $300+
    An original Pink Jubilee Barbie (produced in 1989) has a high resale value, with some people listing their dolls within the $900-$1,100 range.
    • Release year: 1989
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Silver dress with shoulder pads
  17. Step 17 Bob Mackie Countess Dracula Barbie: $300+
    This exquisitely costumed vampire Barbie sells for at least $300, with an upper value as high as $886.[14]
    • Release year: 2011
    • Hair color: Red
    • Outfit: Red and black gown
  18. Step 18 Athena Barbie: $265+
    This iconic Barbie looks ready to take on the battlefield in an outfit fit for a Greek goddess (or warrior). She can be sold for a pretty godly price, ranging anywhere from $265 to $650.[15]
    • Release year: 2010
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Greek warrior outfit
  19. Step 19 Queen Elizabeth I Barbie: $240+
    This Barbie, modeled after the famous historical monarch, can net you anywhere from $240 to $800 (and possibly more, if online marketplaces are anything to go by).[16]
    • Release year: 2004
    • Hair color: Red
    • Outfit: Fancy white gown
  20. Step 20 Karl Lagerfeld Barbie: $200+
    Back in September 2014, a special-edition Barbie produced with well-known fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld hit the markets, with less than 1,000 total Barbies for sale.[17] This Barbie’s resale value often sits between $200 and $350, but some sell this doll for as high as $10,000.
    • Release year: 2014
    • Hair color: White
    • Outfit: Suit and tie
    • Notable accessories: Fingerless gloves and black sunglasses
  21. Step 21 Monique Lhuillier Bride Barbie Gold Label: $199+
    In 2006, 2 Monique Lhuillier Barbies were released: one with brown hair, and one with blonde hair. The brunette version of the doll has a higher resale value ($199-$500) than her blonde counterpart ($325-$350).[18]
    • Release year: 2006
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Long white gown with sash
  22. Step 22 Pink Splendor Barbie: $135+
    This elegant doll has an epic price tag in addition to her epic updo. If you get your hands on this rare Barbie, you can resell her for as much as $2,421.
    • Release year: 1996
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Large pink gown
  23. Step 23 Brunette-Flocked Ken Doll: $130+
    While Ken dolls currently have totally plastic hair, this wasn’t always the case. Originally, a special kind of felt was used for the hair before the big switch was made. If you have a Ken doll with this special type of hair, you could be sitting on a big wad of cash!
    • Release year: 1960
    • Hair color: Brown
    • Outfit: Red and white striped jacket with red shorts
  24. Step 24 Byron Lars Coco Barbie: $100+
    The Byron Lars Coco Barbie features a stylish outfit with multicultural influences. On the low end, this doll sells for $100; on the high end, you can get as much as $1,101 for this Barbie.[19]
    • Release year: 2007
    • Hair color: Black
    • Outfit: Leopard print bodice, puffer vest, stripped top, and tartan skirt
  25. Step 25 Midnight Tuxedo Barbie: $74+
    In 2001, Barbie released 2 different Midnight Tuxedo Barbies: a black-haired doll with a darker skin tone and a blonde-haired doll with a lighter skin tone. The black-haired Midnight Tuxedo Barbie in particular can sell for up to $726, while the blonde-haired Barbie can sell for up to $203.[20]
    • Release year: 2001
    • Hair color: Black
    • Outfit: Long black dress
  26. Step 26 Totally Hair Barbie: $30+
    Don’t be fooled by the low starting price—if you have a high-quality version of this doll in your possession, you could resell her for as much as $391.[21]
    • Release year: 1991
    • Hair color: Blonde
    • Outfit: Pink, purple, green, and blue-patterned shirt and shorts
    • Special note: There was also a Totally Hair Ken doll released in 1991. Like his Barbie counterpart, some collecting enthusiasts believe that he could also be worth over $300.[22]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Appraise Your Barbies

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  1. Step 1 Visit BarbieDB for...
    Visit BarbieDB for a rough estimate. If you have a little background info about your doll, BarbieDB can help you figure out what it’s worth. On the website, fill the form in with the following info:
    • Condition: Mint, Good, Fair, or Poor
    • Age (in years): The estimated age of the doll
    • Rarity: Common, Uncommon, Rare, or Very Rare
    • Includes Accessories: Yes or No
    • Not sure what type of Barbie you have? No worries—use BarbieDB’s “Find Your Barbie tool, which uses info like the Barbie’s name or description, product number, and release year date range to figure out what doll you have.
  2. Step 2 Check for a body marking (like a year stamp).
    If you inspect your Barbie’s body, you should be able to find a year. While this year doesn’t represent when the Barbie hit the shelves, it does signal when the body itself was manufactured.[23]
    • Check the right hip area of the doll for a stamp with identifying information, like the year.
  3. Step 3 Look for holes drilled into the feet to see if your Barbie is vintage.
    When the very first line of Barbies were released, they had small holes drilled into their feet, which allowed the dolls to be displayed on special stands. If your vintage Barbie has this feature, it could potentially be worth a lot of money.[24]
  4. Step 4 Search for a “Made in Japan” label on the Barbie doll.
    In the early years of production, Mattel had their dolls produced in Japan (specifically, between 1959 and 1972). If your Barbie has a “Made in Japan” label, it could very well be vintage (and potentially worth money).[25]
    • Other countries to keep an eye out for are Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea.
  5. Step 5 See if the fingers are split apart on the Barbie’s hands.
    Nowadays, Barbies are made with their fingers fused together on their hands, but this wasn’t always the case. If your Barbie was extremely vintage (particularly if it was made before 1968), its fingers will likely be spread apart.[26]
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Section 3 of 4:

Signs Your Barbie is Worth Money

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  1. Step 1 The doll is still in its original box.
    Sure, a well-loved and played-with doll can offer a lot of sentimental value to you personally, but it unfortunately won’t earn you a lot of money from potential buyers. Barbies that are still in their original box with the original accessories, however, are worth a whole lot more.[27]
    • That’s not to say you can’t make any money from an unboxed Barbie, though! Your money-making potential is just higher your Barbie is as untouched as possible.
  2. Step 2 The doll is in good or near mint condition.
    Whether you’re hanging onto a seriously vintage doll from the 1960s or a retro doll from the 2000s, condition is what matters. Potential buyers aren’t interested in Barbies with missing limbs, frizzy hair, and dirty clothes—even if the doll itself comes from a previous decade. Before putting your Barbie up for sale, make sure that it:[28]
    • Doesn’t have any obvious blemishes
    • Has clear and eyes, lips, and makeup (that aren’t rubbed off)
    • Has decent-looking clothes and accessories
    • Doesn’t smell musty or otherwise bad
  3. Step 3 The doll was part of a limited run and not many were produced.
    Research your doll and see how many were produced. Using established Barbie collector tools like BarbieDB and Barbiepedia are great ways to look up the dolls you have in storage and see when they were made—and, more importantly, how many of them were made. As is the case in any type of collecting, rarer and more limited edition products tend to be worth more money.[29]
  4. Step 4 The doll was released more than 10 years ago.
    The 2010s and beyond have certainly produced their fair share of valuable Barbies (we’re looking at you, Stefani Canturi Barbie!), but the average Barbie doll purchased in recent years probably won’t be resold for very much. Dolls from less recent decades, however, like the 1960s and 70s, have more resale potential.[30]
    • Barbie enthusiasts find that vintage dolls (dolls from the late 50s and early-to-mid 60s) often fall on the pricier side, along with dolls from more recent eras that have special labels to denote their rarity (like Barbies with a gold or platinum label).
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Sell Your Barbies

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  1. Step 1 eBay
    eBay is one of the most well-known online marketplaces and auction sites out there, and for good reason—they’ve been in the game since the early days of the internet. Plenty of potential buyers take to eBay as they seek to expand their Barbie collection, which makes it the perfect spot to list your dolls.[31]
    • Try to be as detailed as possible in your listing, so buyers can be 100% certain that your doll is the real thing (and what they’re looking for).
  2. Step 2 Facebook Marketplace
    As one of the internet’s largest online flea markets, Facebook Marketplace can be a handy place to both scope out and sell your old Barbies for a quick buck.[32]
  3. Step 3 Barbie and doll conventions
    The best way to find vintage Barbie dolls? To rub elbows with those who collect them, of course! Visiting conventions geared toward Barbie collectors can be a great way to sell some of your old dolls to potential customers in-person.[33]
    • For example, the National Barbie Doll Collector's Convention is held annually in the United States. Among the different events and festivities is a Sale Room, where participants can show off or even sell some of their dolls.[34]
    • You might also have luck at conventions dedicated to dolls or other collectible toys.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.wnyc.org/story/98765-barbie-fashion-creating-worlds-most-expensive-doll/
  2. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  3. ↑ https://www.luxuo.com/business/collectibles/diamond-barbie-by-de-beers.html
  4. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  5. ↑ https://en.barbiepedia.com/barbie/lorraine-schwartz-barbie-doll-Barbie.Lorraine.Schwartz.html
  6. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=happy+holidays+barbie&from_year=1997&to_year=1997&order_by=value-desc
  7. ↑ https://en.barbiepedia.com/barbie/devi-kroell-barbie-doll-Barbie.Devi.Kroell.html
  8. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=color+magic+barbie&from_year=1966&to_year=1966&order_by=value-desc
  9. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=harvey+nichols&from_year=1995&to_year=1995&order_by=value-desc
  1. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=Francie&from_year=1966&to_year=1966&order_by=value-desc
  2. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=city+smart+barbie&from_year=2003&to_year=2003&order_by=value-desc
  3. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=centennial+barbie+alpha&from_year=2008&to_year=2008&order_by=value-desc
  4. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=Golden+Gala
  5. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=bob+mackie&from_year=2011&to_year=2011&order_by=value-desc
  6. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=athena&from_year=2010&to_year=2010&order_by=value-desc
  7. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=Queen+Elizabeth&from_year=2004&to_year=2004&order_by=value-desc
  8. ↑ https://barbie.fandom.com/wiki/Karl_Lagerfeld_Barbie
  9. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=monique&from_year=2006&to_year=2006&order_by=value-desc
  10. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=byron+lars+coco&from_year=2007&to_year=2007&order_by=value-desc
  11. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=midnight+tuxedo&from_year=2001&to_year=2001&order_by=value-desc
  12. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/?s=totally+hair&to_year=1992&order_by=value-desc
  13. ↑ https://www.thegamer.com/rarest-barbie-ken-dolls-worth-much/
  14. ↑ https://adventuresinbarbiecollecting.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/how-to-identify-barbie-dolls-resources-websites-and-tips-to-help/
  15. ↑ https://www.invaluable.com/blog/vintage-barbie-dolls/
  16. ↑ https://www.myvintagebarbies.com/id.htm
  17. ↑ https://www.myvintagebarbies.com/id.htm
  18. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  19. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  20. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  21. ↑ https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/value-collectible-barbie-dolls
  22. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/how-to-find-a-barbie-collector/
  23. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/how-to-find-a-barbie-collector/
  24. ↑ https://www.barbiedb.com/how-to-find-a-barbie-collector/
  25. ↑ https://www.barbieconvention.com/sales-room

About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
Janice Tieperman
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 1,019 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: August 14, 2024
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Categories: Fashion Dolls | Doll Collecting
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