There’s no denying it: Barbie is back. Thanks to the new Barbie movie, which is set to earn a whopping $1 billion during its first two weeks at the box office, the interest in Barbie and all things pink has skyrocketed. Not only are fans heading to theaters clad in Barbie-esque outfits, but there’s also been renewed interest in the dolls themselves. Parent company Mattel reported an unexpected $27 billion increase in profits since the movie’s premiere, and collectors have been searching for rare Barbie dolls—especially the kinds that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
Did that pique your interest and make you wonder if you should rummage through the attic to find your Barbie castoffs? And what would even qualify as a much-desired, super-expensive Barbie? We have the answers, as well as how much a single Barbie has ever sold for. Yes, the chances of having one of the most collectible Barbies in your possession is a long shot, but a girl can dream—and hey, you never know!
GetReader’s Digest’sRead Up newsletter for more fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.
The most expensive Barbie ever sold: Stefano Canturi Barbie
Robert Gray/Stringer/Getty Images
The most expensive Barbie won’t just make your jaw drop because of her looks and her price—but also because of the sparkling diamond necklace around her neck. And yes, those are real diamonds around her shiny plastic neck, and we’ll get to those specifics in a minute. Created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, this one-of-a-kind Barbie sold at auction house Christie’s in 2010 for $302,500, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making this a surprisingly feel-good story.
Now, let’s talk about those diamonds. The center stone is a stunning square-cut, 1-carat rare pink diamond that was found in Australia’s Argyle mine, and it’s set in a choker comprised of white diamonds. Plus—because when you’re all in, you’re all in—this Barbie is also sporting a diamond ring.
Aside from her jewels, this fancy Barbie is wearing the perfect little black dress and peep-toe heels. Naturally.
The second-most expensive Barbie: De Beers Barbie
Courtesy Mattel, Inc.
Here’s an interesting fact: The Stefano Canturi Barbie isn’t the only doll decked out with diamonds. To celebrate Barbie’s 40th anniversary in 1999, De Beers diamond jewelers also made a single special-edition Barbie in an evening gown with a bikini top and sheer skirt, adorned with 160 small diamonds and white-gold accessories.
The De Beers Barbie sold for $85,000 that same year, so the price could be significantly more today if it’s still in mint condition. (Which we would really hope it is! Sorry, kids—this one is off-limits to little hands!)
The third-most expensive Barbie: Original Barbie
Courtesy Mattel, Inc.
Back in 1959, when Barbie appeared on the scene, she sold for just $3. Today, the Original Barbie—who dons a black-and-white strapless one-piece bathing suit, gold hoops and black peephole heels and holds sunglasses in her hand—is one of the most iconic Barbies of all time. Although many special-anniversary editions of the Original Barbie exist (including the 35th and 50th anniversary versions, which sell for anywhere between $100 to $1,500 on sites like Etsy and eBay), a real Original Barbie is much harder to come by … especially one in mint condition.
This rare Barbie doll can cost upward of $27,000. And now, thanks to the popularity of the Barbie movie (and Margot Robbie rocking that black-and-white suit to bring back all those nostalgic Barbie feels), it will likely go for even more. So maybe check your grandmother’s attic next time you’re over for Sunday dinner and see what rare valuables you can find!
Other expensive Barbies
Courtesy Mattel, Inc.
While it sure would be nice to find an Original Barbie, you might have better luck with the other sought-after Barbies below. Here’s what they sold for and when.
- Gala Abend Barbie (1965): Sold for $9,148 at Christie’s in 2006.
- Lorraine Schwartz Barbie (2010): Sold for $7,500 at an auction for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. Just 12 of these Barbies were made.
- Brunette Ponytail Barbie (1959): Sold for $6,710 on eBay in 2014.
- Karl Lagerfeld Barbie (2014): Sold for $5,275 on eBay in May 2023. They were originally sold on Net-a-Porter for $200 each, and 900 were produced.
- Marie Antoinette Barbie (2003): Sold for $1,250 on eBay in 2016, though prices range from $1,500 to $3,500 today. Fittingly, this Barbie also boasts a diamond necklace.
For another interesting number, find out how much Barbie’s DreamHouse would cost in real life.
Sources:
- Investopedia: “Earnings Beat of the Week: Mattel Reports Surprise Profit Amid Barbie Box Office Hit”
- Artnet News: “Here Are the World’s Most Expensive Barbie Dolls, from Diamond-Encrusted Models to the ‘Holy Grail’ of Toys”
- Money Inc.: “The Five Most Expensive Barbie Dolls in History”
