Some of the collectibles you might own could be worth a small fortune—you just don’t know it yet!
One of my favorite activities, besides writing and chatting with you about finances, shops, and money-saving tips, is buying abandoned storage units. I’m one of those people you’d see on the Discovery or History Channel who purchase different old units without knowing too much about what’s inside, hoping there’s more treasure than trash in there.
And while some storage units are packed with nothing but broken furniture, old socks, and lamps, others have paid off bigger than I ever imagined. One of my favorite times as a collector was when I found a box of 1980s action figures buried under some beautiful Halloween decorations—one of them sold for $1,100, and I was more than happy about it!
Not to mention, my son was over the moon when I discovered a brilliant unit with stacks of retro video games. These things weren’t behind museum glass—they were hidden, collecting dust, and waiting for someone to give them a new life.
And here’s the thing: I’ve seen the same kinds of items in people’s homes, attics, or basements. That’s why I’m telling you—some of the collectibles you might own could actually be hidden gems in disguise.
So, before you toss out that huge box of “junk” or walk past a colorful old toy shelf, take a closer look. You might be sitting on a fortune and not even know it. I want to make things easy for you, so today’s article is all about the collectibles you might own. They could be your golden ticket to being rich, so keep reading!
1. Barbies
Let’s start off this list of collectibles you might own with Barbies. They’ve always been gorgeous and remain a collector’s dream. If you have the original 1959 doll, consider yourself lucky, because many people would love to put their hands on it!
A 1959 Barbie that’s well taken care of, with the box and the stand, is worth over $10k on eBay. Why not make the most of it, am I right? I wasn’t lucky enough to find any old-fashioned Barbies in the storage units I purchased, but let’s hope I’ll get lucky one day…
2. Baseball cards
If you’re a sports enthusiast, baseball cards are probably among the collectibles you might own. The best part? They could be worth a fortune! Believe it or not, there are thousands of cards people would pay more than $10,000 for today. That’s a ton of money for such a tiny piece of cardboard. Isn’t that amazing?
Now, you might not be the proud owner of a Mickey Mantle card—though that would be incredible—but you might have a 1993 Derek Jeter rookie card. And you know what’s so special about that card? It could fetch upwards of $600,000 with the right buyer. So, better take those cards out and see what treasures you’ve been sitting on!
3. Posters
My wife used to heckle me for buying all sorts of posters at my favorite music festivals, but she doesn’t know how valuable they can be (in the right hands, of course!). What once felt like a quirky hobby might just end up funding our retirement.
Posters of movies, events, and concerts can seriously grow your nest egg. For example, an original “The Wizard of Oz” movie poster sold for over $100,000. That’s right—six figures for paper and ink!
Think that’s wild? Just wait. A 1931 “Dracula” poster fetched over $500,000 at auction in 2017. Imagine stumbling across that in your attic. Collectibles you might own—like these posters—could be hiding in plain sight, just waiting to blow your mind (and your wallet) wide open. Take a look!
4. Comic books
Let me tell you something: the comics market is exploding, and it can bring you a serious fortune! I was floored when I found out that a Golden Age “Batman” comic book sold through Heritage Auctions for a jaw-dropping $2.2 million in 2021.
If I ever sold something for that kind of cash, I wouldn’t tell a soul—but there’d be clues. Think: sudden retirement to the Bahamas or a penthouse in New York City. You’d know something was up.
Back to reality—if you have comics at home, it’s time to take a closer look. Collectibles you might own, especially comic books from before 1980, could be worth a lot, so don’t miss your chance of getting rich!
Those early issues, especially with original artwork, aren’t just nostalgic—they’re beautiful, rare, and wildly desirable. Don’t sleep on your stack of old superheroes.
5. Pokémon cards
If your children were Pokémon fans and used to collect cards, consider yourself lucky, because you could have a fortune in your home and not even know it. These cards have been around since 1996, and many of them have already achieved vintage collector status.
Some of the collectibles you might own, like these Pokémon cards, could help you retire rich. Believe it or not, a rare but beautiful Pikachu holographic “Illustrator” card can sell for $300,000 to over $4 million. That’s right—people who are passionate about this are willing to pay the big bucks just to get their hands on these precious cards.
But here’s the thing: condition and scarcity are the main factors that drive value, so make sure you meet the criteria before putting them up for sale.
Unfortunately, no one in my family was a Pokémon fan, so now I’m just hoping I will come across some cards in one of my storage unit purchases. Fingers crossed!
6. Action figures
I was probably in elementary school when the first “Star Wars” movie was launched. It was magnificent—like nothing I’d ever seen before—and I was hooked. I’ll always be a major fan. Even my children love the series with all their hearts, although they could never experience the frenzy that swept the world back in 1977.
Speaking of movies we love, my father bought me a Boba Fett rocket-firing figure when I was a kid. I was amazed when Hake’s Auctions sold a 1979 figure like this for no less than $236,000 in 2022. I still have mine. It’s sitting on a bookshelf alongside my “Harry Potter” books, but I’m not ready to sell it.
If action figures are among the collectibles you might own, you could be sitting on some serious money. That is—if they don’t hold too much sentimental value, like my Boba Fett does for me.
7. Barware
Are old barware items among the collectibles you might own? Period TV shows like “Mad Men”, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, and “Downton Abbey” were all the rage back in the day—and the best part? They sparked a renewed interest in collecting beautiful, vintage drinkware. So why not turn that trend into a profit?
If you have branded items like colored glasses, sterling silver shakers, or classic decanters, check out auction sites or platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace to get a better sense of their value. You might be surprised by how much they’re worth!
Takeaway
You never know what hidden gems might be sitting in your basement, bookshelf, or attic. From gorgeous, vintage Barbie dolls to action figures and vintage barware, some of the collectibles you might own could be worth far more than you think.
Whether you want to make a quick profit or are simply curious to know more about your belongings, it’s worth taking a second look. Trust me on this one: yesterday’s favorites can easily become today’s fortune.
With that being said, if you’d like to make more money fast, here’s a book that could help you. It saved me countless times when I purchased disappointing storage units, and I still ended up making a pretty big profit. I couldn’t recommend it enough!
And if you want to learn more about the hidden value of the collectibles you might own, leave a comment below, and I’ll take care of Part II faster than you think!
Until next time, here’s another great post from The Price Makers you won’t want to miss: Pay-Yourself-First. The Only Budgeting Method You Will Ever Need!
