You might be sitting on $50,000 — this 2007 gadget could make you rich overnight

People in the US are being told to look in their basements and junk drawers. Old gadgets, books, and toys that have been sitting around for years could now be worth a lot of money. Experts say that things that were once ignored could sell for thousands of dollars at auction, and some could even be worth more than $50,000 if they are kept in their original condition.

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What things are becoming collectibles?

Investment expert Adam Koprucki says that first-generation iPhones, rare collectibles, and nostalgic toys could sell for a lot of money at auction. Things from the 1980s and 1990s, like Star Wars figures, Pokémon cards, and sealed Nintendo games, are now very popular and could sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.


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“Most people throw away items that could pay for their retirement in just a few years,” Adam Koprucki, founder of Real World Investor. “The truth is, certain everyday objects sitting in your home might be worth more than your stock portfolio by 2030.”

Koprucki points out that the value of first-generation iPhones, which came out in 2007, has gone through the roof. The original price was $499, but now sealed units sell for $20,000 or more. At auction, rare 4-GB models can go for almost $190,000. He thinks that models in mint condition could be worth more than $50,000 by 2030, as per a report by The New York Post.

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Things from the 1980s and 1990s are also very popular now. Original Transformers toys, Star Wars action figures, and first-edition Harry Potter books can sell for more than $50,000. A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. once sold for $2 million, even though it only cost $30 when it first came out.

“Most people don’t realize that the Star Wars figures they played with as kids or the Pokémon cards they collected could now fund a house deposit,” Koprucki stated. “Original Transformers toys from the 1980s in sealed packaging can sell for up to $20,000 each. First-edition Harry Potter books that cost less than $20 new can fetch over $50,000 today.”

“The rarest Nintendo games from the 1980s and ‘90s can sell for over $100,000,” the expert stated. “A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for $2 million in 2021, a game that originally retailed for about $30.”

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Why is condition so important?

Adam Koprucki says that items in their original packaging sell for much more, sometimes ten times more than items that are not in their original packaging. In the collectibles market, things that look "as new" are still very popular.

People who collect or invest in things should get them appraised before selling them online. Koprucki said, "“Online auction sites make it easier than ever to sell collectibles, but knowing exactly what you have is crucial to getting top dollar.”

How is the market for collectibles doing?

The collectibles market in the U.S. was worth $62 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $83.7 billion by 2030, with a growth rate of 5.3% each year. Even though the economy is uncertain, this rise shows that people are really interested in nostalgic items, rare gadgets, and first-edition collectibles.

FAQs

What old thing from 2007 could be worth $50,000?
By 2030, a first-generation iPhone in perfect condition could be worth $50,000.

Do collectibles sell better when they are still in their original packaging?
Yes. Items that are still in their original packaging can sell for up to ten times more than items that are loose or not sealed.