Barbie dolls were initially released in 1959, and they’ve changed quite a lot since then! Originally priced at $3 per doll, many Barbie dolls are now worth thousands, but which are the most valuable?
The most expensive Barbie doll of all time is Barbie by Stefano Canturi. This Barbie sold for $302,500 when it went to auction in 2010. This Barbie features a massive (compared to the doll’s size) diamond necklace and a matching ring, both featuring colorless diamonds and a rare pink diamond.
Barbie dolls aren’t only for children. They also make top-notch collector’s items! This ranking will reveal which of these toys are the most valuable.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Barbie Dolls of All Time:
- Barbie by Stefano Canturi – $302,500
- Barbie & the Diamond Castle Promo Doll – $94,800
- De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie – $85,000
- #1 Ponytail Barbie – $27,450
- Barbie in ‘Midnight Red’ – $17,065
- Pink Diamond Barbie – $15,000
- Gala Abend Barbie – $13,650
- Signed Pillow Talk Barbie Set – $7,680
- Karl Lagerfeld Barbie – $3,500
- Porcelain Rumba Barbie Doll Prototype – $2,640
10. Porcelain Rumba Barbie Doll Prototype – $2,640
This prototype Barbie might not be wearing the most expensive clothing brands, but it’s still a fashionable doll worth thousands!
Originally designed to have a distinct 1920s hairstyle and design, the Porcelain Rumba Barbie is unlike other iterations. For starters, it’s a prototype that never made it to full production.
This Barbie doll is also made of porcelain instead of plastic. So while the standard Barbie might be able to withstand hours of play without showing signs of wear, this particular Barbie is quite fragile.
When the Porcelain Rumba Barbie went to auction in 2005, it sold for $2,640. But considering how rare and unique this display Barbie is, it’ll likely sell for a much higher price if sold again in the future.
Why It’s Expensive
Rarity is the primary reason this Barbie doll is so expensive. After all, it’s a one-of-a-kind prototype, so it’s irreplaceable.
This display Barbie also comes with a signed sheet of concept art, a unique additional item you don’t often find with rare Barbie dolls. Besides, this collectible comes pre-positioned on a display stand, making it an alluring item that appeals to collectors of all calibers.
9. Karl Lagerfeld Barbie – $3,500
Some Barbie dolls aren’t made for play, including the Karl Lagerfeld Barbie. This distinctly fashionable Barbie comes with a thick square base stand, making it a display item that would look great in any top-level toy collection.
In 2014, 999 of these high-end Barbie dolls went up for sale and sold out instantly. The going re-sale price? Up to $3,500!
For that kind of money, you could afford to buy an entire Karl Lagerfeld outfit, complete with accessories. Still, if you’re an avid toy collector, the miniature Lagerfeld clothes and Barbie are bound to be a more attractive investment.
Why It’s Expensive
If you’re lucky, you might be able to find one of these iconic Barbies for less than $2,000.
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer known for his contemporary, cutting-edge style and celebrity clients. While many Lagerfeld products are comparatively affordable (some only costing a few hundred dollars), his fashion items tend to appeal to the most affluent and fashionable buyers.
So, when this rare Karl Lagerfeld Barbie was released in 2014, those with a passion for fashion and unique toys immediately acted to snap up every available doll. This high demand, coupled with limited supply, caused the value of this Barbie to skyrocket.
Because this version of the infamous doll won’t ever see a re-release, its value will surely increase over time, especially if kept in pristine condition. In fact, some of these Barbies are currently selling for more than $3,500 on auction sites like eBay!
8. Signed Pillow Talk Barbie Set – $7,680
The film Pillow Talk came out in 1959, the same year as Barbie!
But the Pillow Talk Barbie Set is far newer. It was released in 2011 and consisted of two dolls, each representing the main characters from the film.
Now, these old-fashioned-looking Barbie dolls might not appeal to the average child, which is the general demographic for Barbie dolls. However, this set is a fantastic collector’s item for adults.
One of these sets is also quite valuable. The boxed pair we’re talking about is the signed Pillow Talk Barbie Set, which features Doris Day’s classic signature on the upper corner. This set sold for a whopping $7,680!
Why It’s Expensive
Sadly, Doris Day passed away in 2019. As such, items featuring her signature can sell for premium prices, as they’re now rare commodities.
But while the signature on this boxed Barbie set is the main reason it sold for big bucks in 2020, it’s not the only reason. After all, this commemorative pair of Barbie dolls are far less common than standard Barbie dolls found in your local department store.
7. Gala Abend Barbie – $13,650
Vintage Barbie dolls like the Gala Abend Barbie are incredibly valuable, especially if they’re rare and in top-notch condition. An immaculate Gala Abend Barbie sold for $13,650 in 2006, and it’s not challenging to understand why!
When the Gala Abend Barbie was released in 1965, it was initially only available to European buyers. The name of this Barbie is partially German and translates to “Evening Gala.”
Collectors in North America and Asia would have been hard-pressed to get their hands on one of these stunning Barbie dolls in the 1960s. Additionally, because of this doll’s age, finding one in excellent condition nowadays is a challenge.
Why It’s Expensive
This Barbie’s handsewn quilt-like dress isn’t the primary reason it’s such an expensive toy. Instead, this doll’s value is the result of time and scarcity.
As time passes, the likelihood of finding a specific toy decreases dramatically. This is why in-box toys released over a decade ago can sell for incredible prices on auction websites.
Not only is this toy vintage (more than 40 years old), but it’s also rare. It was rare in 1965 due to its limited release, and it’s even rarer now because of its age and condition. These factors are why it’s worth thousands.
6. Pink Diamond Barbie – $15,000
Marilyn Monroe spread the message in 1953–Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! But Barbie dolls were also traditionally advertised as a girl’s best friend.
Consequently, it makes sense that there would eventually be a marriage between the two, resulting in a glamorous and luxurious doll that could easily fetch thousands at auction.
Introducing the Pink Diamond Barbie, a lavish toy dressed to the nines in a diamond-covered pink dress. Her matching, sparkling shoes and faux-fur pink coat are great additional touches, though they’re not nearly as valuable as the dress.
The value of this glittering Barbie is an astounding $15,000!
Why It’s Expensive
The precious stones covering this doll are responsible for its higher-than-average value.
After all, this Barbie has diamond earrings, a diamond ring, and a diamond-covered dress. Diamonds aren’t cheap, and neither is this Barbie.
Still, the Pink Diamond Barbie isn’t the most expensive Barbie featuring diamonds. But we’ll touch on that later!
5. Barbie in ‘Midnight Red’ – $17,065
If you’re unfamiliar with vintage Barbie dolls, you might not be aware that many of these dolls were sold separately from their stylish outfits.
Back in the day, you’d buy a standard Barbie for about $3, then spend more to build a miniature collection of Barbie outfits and accessories. These vintage outfits can sell for hundreds of dollars nowadays, even without a doll to go along with them.
But when you find a vintage Barbie doll wearing a vintage outfit, you’ve got a real treasure. That’s certainly the case with the Barbie in ‘Midnight Red’ that sold for $17,065 in 2006.
Why It’s Expensive
This Barbie was released in 1965, so it’s a vintage toy. But while the doll is in impressive condition, especially considering its age, the true star is the red outfit.
While the Midnight Blue barbie outfit was sold widely throughout North America in 1965, its more eye-catching red version enjoyed a much more limited release, making it rare.
In short, Barbie in ‘Midnight Red’ is expensive because of its age, condition, and rarity.
4. #1 Ponytail Barbie – $27,450
If you own an original Barbie (the first one released in 1959), you own a piece of history. After all, the doll saw many design changes after its release, some of which began in 1960.
Called the #1 Ponytail Barbie, this rare original Barbie is worth a ton of money. In fact, one of these dolls (an NRFB blond dressed for a barbecue) sold for $27,450 in May 2006 at Sandi Holder’s Doll Attic in Union City, California. That’s about as much as a brand-new sedan!
Why It’s Expensive
This Barbie is expensive because of its historical significance and rarity. About 300,000 of these blonde-haired dolls were released in 1959, and it’s been more than half a century since Barbie debuted.
Essentially, finding a #1 Ponytail Barbie, especially one in good condition, is challenging. And yet, the first Barbie isn’t the priciest of the bunch.
3. De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie – $85,000
Anyone who’s ever invested in high-quality diamonds has heard of De Beers. This company is one of the world’s largest and most successful diamond-mining enterprises; several of its gemstones have broken records in terms of value and quality.
But did you know that De Beers also released a special Barbie doll?
This doll, priced at $85,000, isn’t exactly the most kid-friendly model, both in terms of appearance and components. The doll is dressed scantily, wearing a white gold bra for a top and an orange-pink skirt that matches a bright orange sash.
The De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie is also decorated with 160 diamonds! With that many precious stones trailing across the doll’s skirt, you won’t want to allow your toddler to get their hands on it.
Why It’s Expensive
This doll was released in 1999 (the 40th anniversary of Barbie) and is undeniably decadent, containing a literal wealth of precious metals and stones. These components, coupled with the doll’s rarity, make it a unique asset that could become more valuable with time.
2. Barbie & the Diamond Castle Promo Doll – $94,800
To herald the release of the 2008 Barbie movie Barbie & the Diamond Castle, the brand released a diamond-covered promotional Barbie princess doll worth $94,800.
When we say release, we mean created and showed off because this doll never went up for sale. That’s a shame because this Barbie doll wore a luxurious pink-and-purple gown studded with more than 20 carats of glittering colorless diamonds.
Why It’s Expensive
Like the De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie, this doll is expensive because of diamonds and gold.
It’s also a one-of-a-kind item, so it’s irreplaceable. This makes it even more valuable!
1. Barbie by Stefano Canturi – $302,500
The most expensive Barbie doll of all time is the Barbie by Stefano Canturi. This Barbie sold for $302,500 when it went to auction in 2010. At least a portion of these funds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), so this doll’s high price isn’t without positive impacts.
This modern Barbie doll might not look expensive, especially at first glance. She’s wearing a simple black dress (with some frills), a clean-cut updo, and simple pale pink shoes. But if you look at the glittering jewels around her neck, you’ll begin to understand why this is the rarest and most valuable Barbie ever created.
The necklace is made of three carats of various-cut colorless diamonds arranged in a pattern that evokes the Cubism art movement. At the center of these haphazard diamonds is a one-carat vivid pink diamond.
The fancy pink square-cut diamond in this Barbie’s necklace might not be one of the most expensive diamonds in the world, but it is comparatively rare and distinctly valuable.
Why It’s Expensive
Adding diamonds to any item will make it expensive, as diamonds are some of the costliest precious stones on the planet.
But adding rare colored diamonds is even better, as pale pink and blue diamonds (often described as vivid or fancy) are exceptionally rare. This Barbie is worth a small fortune thanks to the diamond necklace and included diamond ring, both of which exude wealth and luxury.
Why Are Some Barbies Dolls Expensive?
The average Barbie doll costs between $5 and $30, depending on the model and its included accessories. But, as this ranking shows, some Barbie dolls are worth thousands!
But what sets a standard low-cost Barbie apart from a high-value one?
The answer generally comes down to:
- Rarity
- Age
- Condition
One-of-a-kind Barbie dolls are always valuable, as they’re impossible to replace. Vintage Barbie dolls (especially those from the first year of production) are also expensive, especially when they’re in excellent condition.
But while some Barbie dolls can sell for thousands of dollars, they’re not the most expensive toys of all time. In fact, some toys are worth millions!
What’s the Most Expensive Barbie Doll of All Time?
The most expensive Barbie doll of all time is Barbie by Stefano Canturi, which sold for $302,500 at a Christie’s auction in 2010. This Barbie’s primary appeal was a diamond necklace (and a matching ring) featuring a rare one-carat fancy pink diamond.
It’s also worth noting that this Barbie is the only of its kind. Because it’s a one-of-a-kind item, it’s an ideal choice for collectors and curators. This rarity also makes the doll (and its jewelry) quite valuable.
Check out these related articles to learn more about the most expensive entertainment items!