When most people think about potentially valuable personal possessions it is jewellery, art or antiques that spring to mind.
However, shifting generations have brought a change in what performs well at auction, and toys are now one category that should not be overlooked. A mint-condition Star Wars action figure, a 1960s Scalextric set, or even an unopened box of LEGO can sell for hundreds.
For executors and solicitors, this is a reminder that toys tucked away in the loft shouldn’t be dismissed offhand and could well need an expert eye in case of hidden value.
To prove the point, here are the six most valuable toys ever sold at auction.
1. Rocket-Firing Boba Fett Action Figure – $1.34 million
The most expensive toy ever sold at auction, a rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype, achieved US$1.34 million at Goldin Auctions in August 2024.
This was the near-production “L-slot” prototype, complete with its missile-firing backpack. These figures were almost ready for retail release before being cancelled over safety concerns, making them the holy grail of Star Wars toys.
2. Hand-Painted Boba Fett Prototype – $525,000
Earlier in 2024, Heritage Auctions sold a hand-painted development prototype of the same rocket-firing Boba Fett for US$525,000.
Unlike the near-production version mentioned above that sold for $1.34 million, this example was an earlier hand-painted test piece. The $1.34 million figure was much further along in development — essentially ready for release before being cancelled — whereas this earlier sample shows the rougher, experimental stage of the process
3. Stefano Canturi Barbie – US$302,500
Unlike the other examples here, the record-breaking Stefano Canturi Barbie wasn’t a rare vintage collectible, but a standard modern doll dressed with a jeweller-designed necklace featuring a one-carat pink diamond and three carats of white diamonds.
In other words, the value lay almost entirely in the gemstones rather than the plastic figure, but the piece certainly had a purpose, with 100% of the profits from the sale being donated to breast cancer research.
4. Castle Grayskull Playset – $209,410
In 2025, an unopened Castle Grayskull playset became the most valuable production toy ever sold, fetching US$209,410 at LCG Auctions.
This Masters of the Universe set was graded at a near-perfect condition by the AFA (Action Figure Authority) with a score of 90.
5. Luke Skywalker Telescoping Lightsaber Action Figure – $161,458
Also sold by LCG Auctions in 2025, a pristine example of the early Luke Skywalker figure with its rare telescoping lightsaber achieved US$161,458.
Its fragile design meant that production was quickly abandoned, making surviving examples in top condition extraordinarily valuable.
Conclusion
The toys we’ve looked at here are extreme cases, but they make an important point. You don’t need a million-dollar prototype for toys to matter when it comes to probate as more ordinary collections of trains, cars, dolls or board games can still carry real value, often far more than families expect.
That’s why at Swift Values we have toy specialists on hand who are able to provide an opinion based on photographs from just £25+VAT.
The moral of the story? Keep an open mind when it comes to toys, and don’t mess around if its Star Wars!
This article was submitted to be published by Swift Values as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
