The decade welcoming in the new century became a transformative era for many reasons. Google had just come on the scene in 1998, video calls on Skype came in 2003, Mark Zuckerberg released Facebook in 2004, and YouTube and Twitter arrived in 2005 and 2006.
Along with these milestones of the decade came some relics, if you will, that may be disheartening to those trying to defy the fact that years have passed since they listened to music on their brand new iPod capable of holding a whopping 1,000 songs, or since they last tried to “catch ‘em all” as a kid, or sat down to play with their favorite Bratz doll.
As the years have gone by, new technology and fads have come to popularity, leaving many in the past. Mental Floss recently identified some of these items you need to look out for while doing your spring cleaning. If you come across any of them, before you throw them away, be sure to make a quick check on their value.
Pokémon
Released in 1996, Pokémon gained large popularity among kids trying to collect all the different card types, physically or on the Gameboy. Just when you thought you were about to “catch ‘em all,” a new generation of Pokémon came out. Most are worth only pennies but a few select cards go for enough money to make you wish you had invested a little more in the popular card game as a kid.
A first edition Shadowless Charizard can garner between $250,000 to more than $500,000 depending on the condition and type of card. And if you are extra lucky, you might find a Pikachu Illustrator. In February, influencer Logan Paul who participated in many high-profile fights sold his Pikachu Illustrator card for $16 million, an $11 million increase on his original investment from 2021.
Harry Potter first editions
Many first editions of the Harry Potter series can be worth thousands, especially if it has a mistake. Mistakes can be found in many of the first releases of each book, but the most valuable is the “1 wand error.” It was published before 2000 but in the first edition of the Philosopher’s Stone, a list on page 53 repeats “1 wand” twice. The error occurred in 500 books, and one sold for roughly $38,000 in Europe in 2019, according to BBC.
iPod
Used versions of these iPods may not be worth much today, but if you kept it sealed, planning for a future day, you could get a nice payment. The iPod revolutionized the music world in 2001, introducing “1,000 songs in your pocket” as the industry moved on from CDs. A factory sealed iPod recently sold for $40,264, according to RR Auction.
iPhone
Six years following the release of its revolutionary iPod, Apple released its first ever iPhone for $499. A factory sealed iPhone sold for 380 times that price at $190,373 in 2023, Fortune reported.
Marie Antoinette Barbie
The doll is part of Mattel’s Women of Royalty Series based on Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun’s 1783 portrait of the French royalty released in 2003. She comes dressed in a blue gown, wearing a diamond necklace. It was sold for $1,250 on eBay in 2016. Current asking prices are between $1,500 and $3,500, according to Artnet.
Lego sets
Ranging from Harry Potter and Star Wars to Lego replicas of the Statue of Liberty, there are plenty of lego sets that might be sitting around in storage that could be worth a few hundred bucks. The 2001 Star Wars Rebel Blockade Runner 10019 is a giant masterpiece when finished, and it does not leave out any detail which makes it highly sought after. It is worth $1,330, TheGamer reports.
Other sets go for even more:
- Comic Con Batman Announcement set - $1,708 (2005)
- Statue of Liberty - $2,131 (2000)
- LECA Automobile LIT2005 - $2,351 (2005)
Tamagotchi Connection
These small, egg-shaped devices, often connected to key chains would need to be watched carefully because if left unattended the pet inside could die. Tamagotchi was released to the U.S. in 1997 and fazed out quickly, but was revived after Tamagotchi Connection was released in 2004 where owners could connect with other Tamagotchi owners. Special editions can sometimes reach as much as $300, according to Benzinga.
Nintendo 64
Pioneering 3D graphics and hosting iconic games like “Super Smash Bros.,” “Mario Kart” and “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” the Nintendo 64 hit huge popularity in its brief six years before it was discontinued in 2002. Units in good condition can reach $21,000 in asking price, Envirofone reports.
Passionfruit Furby
This emoto-tronic pet released in 2005 is a rare edition of the owl-hamster hybrid craze that began in 1998. Its white and purple fur with blue eyes attracted the attention of many, and today it can be worth as much as $300, according to Fandom.
Bratz Dolls
Released in 2001, Bratz Dolls were distinguished by their “edgy” fashion and unique aesthetic, We-R-Toys reports. Now, about 20 years later, these Bratz dolls may be worth a decent sum:
- Felicia – Sweet Dreams Pajama Party: $1,000-$2,500 (2005)
- Meygan – Funk Out: $500–$1,200 (2003)
- Sasha – Tokyo A Go-Go: $600-$1,100 (2004)
- First Edition Cloe: $800-$1,500 (2001)