The Five Most Expensive LEGO Sets of All Time
If you happen to have any of these LEGO kits in your collection, you might be sitting on plastic brick gold!
Welcome in, brick enthusiasts! If you’re like me, you know the joy of putting the final brick into a complex LEGO set (or a not-so-complex one; simple joys are important, too). Taking a set from a pile of colored bricks to, say, a bust of Darth Maul or a thriving Martian station is one of the most exciting things in the world.
However, the sets can get a little pricey, especially as they phase out of rotation. Moreover, a few sets shoot WAY up in price, whether from desirability, scarcity, or a combination of both. Some of those kits are worth a small fortune these days, and if you happen to have one, you could make a pretty penny.
#5: LEGO Pirates Skull’s Eye Schooner
The LEGO Pirates set first appeared in 1989. It was one of the first sets released after the original LEGOLAND series in the 1970s. The original pirate ship from the set, the Black Seas Barracuda, would be assumed to be the most expensive kit. However, that prestige instead falls to the Skull’s Eye Schooner, which was released in 1993. It is one of the most iconic kits from the theme. Many who think of LEGO Pirates are thinking of this kit.
The set features moveable cannons, several pirate-themed minifigs (including a parrot, a monkey, and a shark), and three masts. Until the Imperial Flagship was released in 2010, the Schooner was the largest Pirate kit at 912 bricks.
Retail Price: $7500
#4: Ole Kirk’s House
The LEGO Inside Tour is a special exclusive experience for diehard fans held once a year. It is offered to a small select group and includes a tour of the brick factory and Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s former home. In addition, the group receives a unique, one-of-a-kind kit that is available only at the event. In 2009, the kit was a recreation of Kristiansen’s home.
Most of the worth of this kit comes from scarcity. Only 32 of these kits were produced, and each bears a numbered stamp on the box. A similar set was released in 2012 as an employee reward. However, only the original Ole Kirk holds the high price tag.
Retail Price: ~$8000
#3: LEGO Star Wars Cloud City
LEGO Star Wars has been one of their most successful brands to date. From the massive Death Star to the imposing Star Destroyer, LEGO’s adventures in a galaxy far, far away are some of their best available kits. However, it may surprise you that neither of the aforementioned kits are chart toppers. Instead, the top spot belongs to the humble Cloud City kit. While there have been many sets featuring the iconic Bespin base, the OG holds the highest price tag.
As with all things collectible, the LEGO market is highly volatile. However, the Cloud City kit has seen the greatest variance in price since its initial release. At present, it is priced upwards of $9000, but it has vacillated up to nearly $10k and down to less than $700.
Retail Price: $9750
#2: Castle
Several iconic LEGO kits have risen over the years. However, few are as recognizable as the banana-yellow medieval stronghold, the LEGO Castle. It was one of the first kits and remains a fond memory for older LEGO fans. While it hasn’t stood the test of time thanks to its odd coloration, it remains a high-value collector’s item.
This was one of the first kits produced by LEGO in the early 1970s, and most of the value is based in nostalgia. I myself remember how cool this kit was (even though I wasn’t around in the 70s, but i wasn’t far behind). Finding an in-box original kit is next to impossible, but lucky collectors will find the yellow bricks turn to gold in the secondary market. That said, I don’t know if I’d be willing to part with it if I had one.
Retail Price: ~$9900
#1: Space Command Center
The humble Space Command Center sits at the top of the LEGO hierarchy. Easily the most iconic kit in LEGO, this moonbase was the entry point for many fans of tiny bricks. Even new fans would recognize the Space Station thanks to its inclusion in the LEGO Movie. Indeed, even the Spaceman minifig is one of the first that comes to mind when people think of LEGO characters. Though the kit is simple and has been reproduced several times, nothing can match the original.
There’s a reason this kit is worth five figures today. Though the set is simple, the moon buggies, giant dishes, and space suits captured the imaginations of young adventurers in the 70s. With the Space Race reaching its conclusion, fascination with space was at an all-time high. These days, you could probably buy a ticket to space for less than the price of this kit.
Retail Price: ~$10100
