First-Edition Beanie Babies

First-Edition Beanie Babies sparked a financial mania in the late ’90s, with Ty Warner’s $5 plush toys causing people to quit jobs and couples to fight over collections. Most are now worth about $1, but rare ones like a first-edition Princess Diana bear with PVC pellets have 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, making them 30% more valuable than typical rare action figures from #3.