Have you ever wondered if the Ty Beanie Babies you have sitting on a shelf are worth anything? The most expensive Beanie Babies have sold for more than some of the best designer jewelry.
When Ty Beanie Babies were released in 1993, few could have imagined how wanted by collectors they would become. While they became a sensation for casual collectors by 1995, their value was only known after the original toys retired.
In 1999, Ty declared they would no longer make Beanie Babies. But collectors and casual fans made it known that the charismatic toys were wanted. Though some Beanie Babies remained retired, Beanie Babies returned within a year. Starting with a 2000 Beanie Baby called “The Beginning,” it was indeed just the beginning.
With the release of “The Beanie Bubble” movie in July 2023, online searches for beanie babies doubled in the summer, further increasing the interest for the brand.
The list of Ty Beanie Babies is still growing. But while casual fans enjoy newly-released toys, collectors are in search of rare, original Beanie Babies. Some simply are passionate about having Beanie Babies of value. Others are consulting Beanie Baby price guides, hoping they have a valuable childhood toy.
Auctions on eBay show just how much collectors are willing to pay for rare and original Ty Beanie Babies. While some fetch a few hundred dollars, the most expensive Beanie Babies have sold for more than several luxury watches combined.
Here’s this year’s price guide to the most expensive Ty Beanie Babies ever sold, from least to most valuable. We also have a guide to where to sell Beanie Babies online and how to know if yours is a valuable Beanie Baby after the ranking.
Important: This article contains general information about Ty Beanie Babies for general educational purposes. This is a dynamic space, and information about resale value may vary. We will regularly update this article with the latest asking price and actual completed sale prices, but you should always do your own research and be aware of any risks involved.
21. Millennium The Bear: $5,000
With vibrant magenta fur and a celebratory ribbon necklace, Millennium the Bear Beanie Baby marked the brink of a new era. Along with the Y2K excitement, this bear sometimes featured collector-desired errors on the tags, like millennium appearing with just one n.
Despite listings breaking five or even six figures, the value is likely more reasonable because they’re relatively common, even with the errors. But there are 303 examples signed by Ty Warner in 1999 that can fetch thousands.
20. Coral Casino The Bear: $5,000
When exclusivity and charm intersect, expensive Beanie Babies can follow. Only 588 Coral Casino the Bear Beanie Babies were produced. And Ty never sold them directly to the public.
The only way to get your hands on this rare Beanie Baby was to be present at the Coral Casino Beach Club in Santa Barbara California. In December of 2001, lucky attendees received these as a gift at a dinner party there.
19. Lips The Fish: $6,000
Available for about six months in late 1999, Lips the Fish has become a coveted collector’s item. The multicolor design and aquatic theme have entranced Beanie Baby lovers since its launch.
The exact price of this Beanie Baby is hard to define. While there are quite a few available putting downward pressure on the price, select rarities can reach surprising heights. Those with double Canadian tush tags are considered some of the top targets.
18. #1 Bear: $8,000
Easily identified by the #1 stitched into its chest, this bear is one of the most expensive Beanie Babies. These were gifts to top-performing Ty sales representatives in December 1998. Only 253 were ever produced and they were never sold directly to the public, making them a rare Beanie Baby worth thousands.
There’s one premium Beanie Baby #1 Bear missing the #1 emblem, making this the most valuable of the bunch. It last sold for $5,600 in 2017.
17. Hope The Bear: $8,500
The closed eyes and paws pressed together in prayer have turned Hope the Bear into one of the most expensive Beanie Babies around. The serene look goes beyond the usual cuteness and cuddles, providing a beacon of faith and solidarity.
There’s a broad range of prices for this Beanie Baby. Some with rare tag errors have been hitting high sales points, pushing the value to around $8,500.
16. Batty The Bat: $9,500
As the only Beanie Baby with Velcro-tipped wings that you can fasten together, Batty the Bat is a night-time snuggler. The cozy brown felt and readiness for hugs have turned the usual bat reputation on its head.
Most collectors go for the earlier releases, near its introduction in 1997. Rare tag errors combined with its unique connecting wings have driven this Beanie Baby price to the moon.
15. Piccadilly The Clown: $10,000
Released in 1993 as part of the Attic Treasures Collection, this expensive Beanie Baby is not just any clown. It’s the star of the show. Whimsical rainbow attire and jester-like charm steal the spotlight.
Some listings show exaggerated prices, but there’s evidence that collectors are willing to shell out the dough for rare examples of Piccadilly the Clown, perhaps as much as $10,000.
14. McDonald’s International Bears: $10,500
This global Beanie Baby extravaganza was exclusive to McDonald’s Happy Meals. Each of the four adorable bears serves as a passport to Beanie Baby world heritage, including Glory (USA), Erin (Ireland), Maple (Canada), and Britannia (UK).
As some of the most valuable Beanie Babies, this group of McDonald’s International Bears can fetch top dollar. If you have the right set with rare tag errors and unique boxes, the price could go to $10,500 or more.
13. Mystic The Unicorn: $12,000
Galloping in with a touch of fantasy and a sprinkle of sparkle, Mystic the Unicorn is a treasure in the Beanie Baby kingdom.
With around five variants, you must examine the details to find this valuable Beanie Baby. Those with a fine yarn mane, pink horn, and tag errors typically command the highest prices. Whether you’re enchanted by its lore or seeking a magical investment, Mystic offers an adventure into the unknown.
12. Chef Robuchon The Bear: $14,000
Used to commemorate the opening of the L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York in 2006, this exclusive Beanie Baby was given to about 200 attendees.
Chef Robuchon the Bear is a rare culinary creation coming from Ty Beanie Babies. Its exclusivity matched with the world-class reputation of chef Joël Robuchon has turned it into one of the most expensive Beanie Babies you can find, fetching upwards of $14,000.
11. Halo The Angel Bear: $15,000
Radiating celestial vibes, Halo the Angel Bear Beanie Baby is a symbol of protection and grace. This guardian bear has enchanted the hearts of many, driving its price through the roof. The angelic theme watches over with love.
With a short production run, unique tag errors, and a heartwarming poem, certain examples of Halo can be some of the most valuable Beanie Babies, pricing out around $15,000.
10. Strut The Rooster: $16,000
Hatching into the world in 1996, Strut features bright plumage and a perky posture. It’s a wake-up call to fun, urging you to rise and shine with a can-do attitude.
Strut’s countryside cheer has driven collectors crazy for this expensive Beanie Baby. With recent sales well over $10,000, the sky’s the limit for this bird. Add some of his peppy personality to your collection and maybe your bank account will rise to Strut’s call.
9. Fleece The Lamb: $20,000
The beloved farm animal style continues with Fleece the Lamb Beanie Baby. The wooly form is ready to lull you with soft melodies into sweet dreams.
Fleece’s cuddly exterior remains white but its spirit has transformed into a golden guardian, bringing exclusive collector Beanie Baby prices. Beanie Baby lovers can partake in the pastoral peace, but only if they’re willing to dig deep into their pocketbooks and dish out $20,000 first.
8. Gobbles The Turkey: $25,000
Harnessing the heartwarming essence of Thanksgiving, this expensive Beanie Baby isn’t just any turkey. Gobbles embraces festivities and loves a good feast, even if it makes her tummy bulge.
Whether it’s a love for the particular holiday or the playful companionship Gobbles offers, this Beanie Baby price can reach astronomical heights. It’s also one of the hottest of the moment, with many sales pushing the expected value even higher to about $25,000.
7. Bubbles The Fish: $30,000
The bright yellow and black stripes of Bubbles the Fish are swimming right up this list of the most expensive Beanie Babies. Introduced in 1996, the enchanting aquatic theme toy can flap its fins through any underwater adventure.
If you want the best Bubble the Fish Beanie Baby, look for tags with errors from 1995. They are reaching new heights in the world of the priciest Beanie Babies.
6. Spook The Ghost: $33,000
With a deep backstory, silver screen presence, and ultra-rare production, Spook the Ghost is a top contender for any collection. As The Beanie Bubble movie suggests, Spook was designed by the daughter of an acquaintance of Ty Warner.
The earliest units include “Designed by Jenna Boldebuck” on the tag of the first non-animal Beanie Baby. The name Spook was quickly changed to Spooky and a customary poem replaced the designer’s accreditation. The original Spook models are some of the most expensive Beanie Babies around, pushing upwards of $33,000.
5. Peace The Bear: $50,000
Distinctive tie-dye fur with peace-and-love unity resonates through Peace the Bear. The free spirit may come from a place where money doesn’t matter, but it’s now sparked interest among deep-pocket collectors. Peace has grown into one of the most valuable Beanie Babies in the world.
A limited-edition release of modern Peace has helped to reignite the demand for the original creation. The rarest examples with unique tags and from the earliest days can fetch the highest prices, pushing the value of this Beanie Baby toward $50,000.
4. Lefty The Donkey & Righty The Elephant: $50,000
In a lighthearted representation of the major US political parties, this Beanie Baby duo is reaching across the aisle and into hearts everywhere. Die-hard collectors and political aficionados want to add every variant to their collections.
Yet the most valuable pair are even more exclusive based on an impression that happened after production. Hillary Clinton’s signature is on the side of two of these coveted Beanie Babies, allowing the price to shoot to $50,000.
3. Valentino & Valentina The Bears: $60,000
The first sign of this loving combination came in 1995 when Valentino the White Bear took part in a Toys for Tots promotion. It includes an extra hang tag to commemorate the United States Marine Corps Reserve program that provides donated toys to children.
In 1999, Valentina the Fuchsia Bear was introduced. Since then, individual Valentino and Valentina bears with unique traits and special tags have climbed in value. When you find the right pair, the Beanie Baby price for this couple might be worth as much as $60,000.
2. Wise The Owl: $122,000
Soaring to the top of its class, this plush scholar is ready to share its wisdom with the world. Wise the Owl Beanie Baby is a celebration of a job well done, marking the graduation ceremony at the end of an educational endeavor.
Wise’s appeal now goes far beyond a nostalgic reminder of hard work. It’s one of the most valuable Beanie Babies that’s currently spiking in demand. The exact value might change like an owl in flight, but around $122,000 is not unthinkable for the rarest examples.
1. Princess The Bear: $500,000
Released in October 1997, this tribute to Princess Diana quickly rose as a Beanie Baby sensation. Its white rose emblem grabs your eye while the deep purple fur emanates eminence.
While you can find many listings for $500,000, this most expensive Beanie Baby price is only reserved for the rare, original release. Those within the first 200 issued can still fetch five-figure sums, including $20,000 in November 2022 and around $12,000 in December 2023.
Will you stumble across the crown jewel of the Beanie Baby world?
Summary: The 21 most valuable Beanie Babies
Even if you don’t have a valuable Ty Beanie Baby, walking down memory lane is fun. While we’d love to be lucky collectors of rare Beanie Babies, it’d be hard to part with many of them.
Here’s a quick price guide to the most valuable Beanie Babies:
- Princess The Bear: $500,000
- Wise The Owl: $122,000
- Valentino & Valentina The Bears: $60,000
- Lefty The Donkey & Righty The Elephant: $50,000
- Peace The Bear: $50,000
- Spooky The Ghost: $33,000
- Bubbles The Fish: $30,000
- Gobbles The Turkey: $25,000
- Fleece The Lamb: $20,000
- Strut The Rooster: $16,000
- Halo The Angel Bear: $15,000
- Chef Robuchon The Bear: $14,000
- Mystic The Unicorn: $12,000
- McDonald’s International Bears: $10,500
- Piccadilly The Clown: $10,000
- Batty The Bat: $9,500
- Hope The Bear: $8,500
- #1 Bear: $8,000
- Lips The Fish: $6,000
- Coral Casino The Bear: $5,000
- Millennium The Bear: $5,000
Where can I sell my Beanie Babies?
If you think you own a valuable Beanie Baby and want to sell it online, there are a couple of websites where you can list your toys and attract the attention of buyers.
Craigslist is a great way to find collectors in your local area so you can avoid high shipping costs. There’s also eBay, where you can sell your Beanie Babies for a flat rate or auction them off.
You’ve also got Etsy, a global online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. This is a good option if you have lots of Beanie Babies to sell as you can set up an online store. However, Beanie Babies typically sell for less money on Etsy than on other platforms.
Facebook marketplace is another option for selling your second-hand Beanie Babies. And, finally, there’s Sell2BBNovelties, a website marketed towards collectors. Beanie Babies are one of their most popular items.
To sell your Beanie Babies online for the most money, make sure to take high-quality photographs that accurately reflect the condition of your Beanie Babies. The more professional the photos, the better. Use all the right Beanie Baby lingo in the description, such as hang tag (the tag in the ear) or tush tag (the tag on the Beanie Baby’s bottom).
How to know if yours is a valuable Beanie Baby?
One way simple way to find out the value of your Beanie Baby is to search online for the same second-hand Beanie Baby model to see what kind of price people are willing to pay.
However, contacting a Beanie Baby appraiser is the most accurate way to find out if your Beanie Baby is valuable and worth selling. They can also help you identify the kind of buyer who would pay the most.
If you’re trying to determine the value of your Beanie Baby by yourself, sort your Beanie Babies by generation. The older it is, the more it’s likely to be worth. Similarly, retired Beanie Babies that are no longer in production are also worth more.
If your Beanie Baby has an error, such as a typo on the tag or the wrong color nose, this may make it more valuable—but not definitely. Before making an assessment, search online first to see how common that particular mistake is.
The material used to stuff your Beanie Baby will also affect the price. Beanie Babies stuffed with PE (polyvinyl ethylene) pellets are not worth as much as those stuffed with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pellets, which are rarer.
The condition of your Beanie Baby will also affect the price. The cleaner your toy, the higher the price. For the best price, it should also have the original TY tag on it.
Methodology and sources
Determining the value of many of the most expensive Beanie Babies is like playing pin the tail on a donkey. It’s a fluid market with many moving parts. Some Beanie Babies are inherently valuable due to unique manufacturing or limited quantities. Others skyrocket due to popularity and subjective criteria.
To gather this list of the most expensive Beanie Babies, we carefully compiled and reviewed information from many different sources.
Some are red hot right now, likely to rapidly grow in value. Others might be near their peak.
We scoured the listings on sites like eBay, Craigslist, and Etsy. We used these platforms and specialized tools to analyze actual sale prices, prioritizing the most recent transactions. We also reviewed prices offered by expert collectibles companies such as Sell2BBNovelties. And we compared our findings against other curated lists of the best Beanie Babies.
Taken individually, none of these metrics can accurately determine the market value of a certain Beanie Baby. But under our comprehensive approach with a detailed eye, we’ve generated our estimates for this list of the 21 most expensive Beanie Babies.
Beware that value changes can happen in the blink of an eye. And also understand that listing prices can far exceed the actual value.
Will your next Beanie Baby be the one that pays for a luxurious retirement? Or will it be a monument to the plush toy’s peak value? Only time will tell.
Frequently asked questions about beanie babies
The Beanie Babies that are worth the most money are Princess the Bear, Bubbles the Fish, and Piccadilly Attic. Original Beanie Babies that have been retired are worth the most. They also have tags and are in good to mint condition.
Princess the Bear, Bubbles the Fish, Piccadilly Attic, Batty, Jolly the Walrus, Lefty the Donkey and Righty the Elephant, Millennium Bear, Valentino Bear, Brownie the Bear, and Hope Bear are the 10 most valuable Beanie Babies.
The most valuable Beanie Babies are limited edition and rare Beanie Babies. Many of them are bears. The better the condition your Beanie Babies are in, the more likely they are to be worth money. Check our list to discover the 20 most valuable Beanie Babies of all time.
An anonymous buyer purchased Large Wallace and a squad of other Beanie Babies for $600,000. This Ty Beanie Baby collection includes a large Wallace Beanie Baby, alongside Cashew and Huggy bears. The most expensive solo Beanie Baby is Princess the Bear, modeled after the late Lady Diana.
