First-Edition Beanie Babies

Ty Warner's $5 plush toys caused a genuine financial mania in the late '90s. People quit jobs to become Beanie Baby dealers. Divorcing couples fought over collections in court. Most are now worth about $1. But the rare ones? A first-edition Princess Diana bear with PVC pellets has sold for over $500,000 (though many "high" eBay sales are suspected wash trades). Authenticated first-generation Beanie Babies with tag errors — like "Peanut" the royal blue elephant — genuinely sell for $2,000-$5,000 to serious collectors.