McDonald’s has long been a cornerstone of the fast-food industry and a place where many fond childhood memories were made. For years, McDonald’s has given customers opportunities to save on meals, but it turns out there might be a chance to earn from them as well. If you’ve ever enjoyed a Happy Meal, you’re aware that each box not only satisfies your hunger but also includes a toy. Some of these toys have significantly increased in value since they were packed alongside your chicken nuggets and fries.
If you kept the Super Mario Bros. 3 toy collection from 1990, you’re in luck because this video game-themed set is now valued at $600 on eBay. The collection features beloved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) characters like Mario and Luigi, along with an interactive environment that mimics the gravity-defying moves from the games and pits them against enemies like the hopping Koopa Paratroopa and flipping Little Gomba.
The Super Mario Brothers franchise is now considered super valuable
You might wonder how a McDonald’s toy collection could fetch such a high price decades later. The answer lies in nostalgia, which has become a lucrative market for Millennial consumers. These individuals fondly remember these figurines and playsets from their youth and now have the disposable income to purchase these childhood items, especially when it involves Super Mario Brothers.
Consider the $1,360,847,665 global box office for the 2024 Super Mario Brothers movie, based on intellectual property first introduced in 1985, which demonstrates that fans are willing to spend on their favorite franchise. Mario Bros merchandise, such as the Exclusive Club Nintendo Platinum Award 2010 Super Mario Characters, is being sold on eBay for $149.95. Additionally, some of the most valuable retro video games ever released are commanding high prices across online retailers, with game consoles like the Nintendo 64DD, used to play games such as Mario 64, being sold for over $10,000 on sites like Price Charting.
Other memorabilia from the 80s and 90s are worth a lot of money today
It’s not just Mario and Luigi that have captivated the nostalgia market. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise also boasts a passionate fanbase for its vintage merchandise. An “Undercover” series Raphael figurine in mint boxed condition is valued at approximately $3,500, according to CBR, making it the most valuable TMNT toy of all time.
Beanie Babies, once highly sought-after toys in the 1990s, have appreciated in value over time, with the set known as Large Wallace and His Squad fetching $600,000 as reported by Rarest. A few Transformer action figures, debuting around the same time as Super Mario Brothers, are also worth significant sums. And, of course, certain McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys are now valued at a premium. While you may not be able to acquire all of these toys today due to their high prices, it might be wise to hold onto the ones you receive with your next visit to the Golden Arches, as they could be worth more than anticipated in a few decades.
