Action figures are probably some of the priciest collectibles. Sure, plenty sell for just a few dollars, but find a rare or obscure figure and you could be looking at several grand. That’s partly because action figures are usually based on iconic movies or TV series.
Take Star Wars. The series turned into a multi-billion dollar behemoth of toys, games, and (you guessed it) action figures. People love Star Wars, so they’re willing to spend thousands on rare and collectible action figures from across the galaxy.
So just how pricey can action figures be? You might be surprised. From a solid gold C-3PO to a handmade G.I. Joe and more, these are the most expensive action figures on the planet!
9. Star Wars ‘tri-logo’ General Madine Action Figure
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1983
Interesting Fact: There are just 12 known examples of this action figure
photo source: sothebys.com
Named for its characteristic three-logo box, the 1983 General Madine action figure is the rarest of the rare. Only 12 examples are documented globally, and each is worth several thousand dollars.
Sotheby’s auction house sold one of these rare figures for $12,500, making it one of the world’s most expensive action figures. The Kenner-made toy measures 3 ¾ inches tall and sits in a 9-inch box. Some examples are in relatively poor condition, but this one stands out with an exceptionally good rating of C-9.
Did you know?
This action figure was released on January 1, 1983. In the same year, Kenner also released an Admiral Ackbar figure among several others under the “Return of the Jedi” name.
8. The Solid Gold C-3PO
Maker or Brand: LEGO
Action Figure Year: 2007
Interesting Fact: Only five solid gold C-3POs were made
photo source: minifigpriceguide.com
LEGO made just five solid gold C-3POs, so your chances of stumbling across one are pretty low. Estimates say the small figure could be worth as much as $15,000, and it’s not hard to see why.
The design is made of real gold, and LEGO distributed them via a competition advertised in the brand’s 2007 issue of LEGO Magazine.
Anyone lucky enough to win one of these figures could probably earn several thousand dollars if they sold it today!
Did you know?
In addition to the solid gold C-3POs, LEGO made 10,000 gold-plated versions and hid them in the 2007 Star Wars Collection. These figures are less rare than the solid gold version, but they’re still pretty hard to find.
7. Luke Skywalker Action Figure With Double-Telescoping Saber
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1978
Interesting Fact: There are only about 20 known examples of this action figure
photo source: sothebys.com
Experts say there are only about 20 documented examples of this rare action figure, and Sotheby’s sold one of them for $25,000. The Kenner-made toy was released in 1978 with a “double-telescoping” lightsaber, but the company quickly canceled the release due to manufacturing issues.
A non-telescoping version replaced the first edition, but a few rare originals still made it to the market.
Today, the Double-Telescoping Skywalker is one of the rarest and most coveted collectible action figures on the market.
Did you know?
Sotheby’s says this is one of the first Double-Telescoping Skywalkers to come off the assembly line, adding to the collectible appeal.
6. Walrus Man Sample Card With White Cape Bib Fortuna
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1982
Interesting Fact: This card has an AFA quality rating of 80
photo source: hakes.com
Hake’s auction house sold this action figure in November 2019, and the final sale price was shocking. $28,000 — the rare figure earned nearly 30 grand in just twenty minutes of bidding.
Hake’s says this action figure is valuable because of its sample card: “This card was used for sample purposes for Kenner’s popular 1984…toyline as the Bib Fortuna Return of the Jedi card was not yet ready at this stage in development.”
Beyond that, the action figure is also notable for its depiction of Bib Fortuna. “This sample card features Bib Fortuna wearing a white cape,” says Hake’s, “instead of the regular produced tan cape.”
Did you know?
This action figure is 4 inches tall.
5. The Rare Darth Vader Action Figure
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1978
Interesting Fact: This action figure features a double-telescoping saber
photo source: antiquestradegazette.com
Remember the failed Double-Telescoping Skywalker figure? Kenner tried the same design with Darth Vader. Just like Luke Skywalker, the design was halted because of manufacturing issues. The Vader version is even rarer than Skywalker, so it’s more expensive too.
In 2018, Hake’s auction house sold one of these figures for more than $50,000 — who knows how expensive these action figures will be in the future!
Did you know?
According to reports, Hake’s auction house thought this action figure would sell for at least $30,000 — so 50 grand was definitely a successful sale. Several other Star Wars action figures sold at the same auction.
4. Vlix
Maker or Brand: Glasslite
Action Figure Year: 1980s
Interesting Fact: Only about 2,000 Vlix action figures were made
photo source: news.justcollecting.com
Even the most dedicated Star Wars fans may not recognize Vlix. The obscure character was featured in a few episodes of the short-running TV show “Star Wars: Droids,” but he never made it to a flagship Star Wars film.
Kenner had the rights to make action figures based on the TV show and made a few toy molds for the project, but the series was canceled before they could finish any toys. Kenner sold its now-useless molds to another toymaker called Glasslite.
In turn, Glasslite used the molds to make a Vlix action figure when “Star Wars: Droids” premiered in Brazil. Lucasfilm caught wind of the unauthorized toy and shut it down.
Glasslite had already made about 2,000 Vlix figures, but Lucasfilm had them destroyed. Only a few slipped through the cracks, and now they’re worth thousands. Some estimates peg their value at about $60,000 each!
Did you know?
Beyond the ones Lucasfilm destroyed, many rare Vlix action figures were burned in a warehouse fire according to rumors.
3. The Rare Obi-Wan Kenobi Action Figure
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1978
Interesting Fact: This figure features a double-telescoping lightsaber
photo source: dailymail.co.uk
At number three is another action figure from that failed Kenner batch. The Obi-Wan Kenobi figure also features a double-telescoping lightsaber, and Kenner stopped production before very many were made. The 1978 toy is a rarity today, and collectors are willing to spend top-dollar on the few that show up at auction. One sold for $65,000 at a Hake’s auction in 2018, making it the third most expensive action figure in the galaxy.
Did you know?
A Hake’s auction house representative said this is a once-in-a-lifetime action figure: “They are incredible prices that reflect the rarity of these two figures because when are you going to get the chance to buy something like this again? The answer is it may never happen.”
2. The Handmade G.I. Joe Action Figure
Maker or Brand: Hasbro
Action Figure Year: 1963
Interesting Fact: Hasbro sold more than 370 million official G.I. Joe action figures
photo source: cbsnews.com
At number two is the G.I. Joe handmade action figure prototype. The figure was made in the ‘60s as Hasbro developed its famous toy. Reports say the action figure was owned by a Hasbro employee and Korean War veteran named Don Levine before it landed in the hands of Stephen Geppi, a comic book distributor.
Geppi bought the action figure for $200,000 in 2003, but not before it failed to reach a $600,000 minimum bid at an auction in San Diego. Geppi said he was very happy with the $200,000 purchase despite its steep price tag.
Did you know?
This action figure was sold through Heritage Comics Auctions in Dallas, Texas.
1. The Rocket-Firing Boba Fett
Maker or Brand: Kenner
Action Figure Year: 1979
Interesting Fact: This toy was never mass-produced
photo source: antiquetrader.com
The Rocket-Firing Boba Fett is the most expensive action figure in the world.
This rare Boba Fett action figure was never mass-produced. Kenner made the toy for the 1980 release of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” but full-scale production never happened because of issues with the rocket-firing system.
Today, the Rocket-Firing Boba Fett is worth more than $200,000. Would you pay that much for an action figure?
Did you know?
This toy was displayed at the 1979 New York Toy Fair. The action figure stands nearly 4 inches tall and features two detachable accessories. Reports say fewer than 30 examples of the rare toy remain.
