Top 10 Most Expensive Barbie Dolls Of All Time

Sally Polly September 04, 2021 | 08:15

Barbie was originally made as toys for children, but the products got better each year with more creativity added into making this gorgeous dolls, and some of them (the insane price and delicate features) are definitely not for your child to touch.

Top 10 most expensive barbie dolls of all time

When the Barbie doll was introduced in 1959, the blonde beauty became an instant icon. While she has undergone many changes (physical, career, and otherwise) over the past several decades, fans continue to clamor for what’s new and next for Barbie, not to mention collect some classic vintage iterations. According to Mattel, the company behind all things Barbie, collecting the dolls really hit a high note during the 1990s, which they note is likely thanks to the introduction of bidding sites like eBay. But to their credit, the company also upped its partnership game around this time, debuting the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie, whose impressive ensemble shimmered with 5,000 hand-sewn golden sequin accents. That’s not the only doll to garner attention for its expensive taste, these Barbie dolls cost a lot of moola when they were introduced as well.

Let’s find outtop 10 most expensive barbie dolls that were ever made in history.

The list of top 10 most expensive barbie dolls of all time

10. Marie Antoinette – $1,250

9. Sweet Dreams Barbie – $5,500

8. Lorraine Schwartz Barbie – $7,500

7. Abend Barbie Gala – $13,673

6. Pink Diamond Barbie – $15,000

5. Barbie in Midnight Red – $17,091

4. 1959 Barbie – $27,450

3. De Beers Barbie – $85,000

2. Barbie And The Diamond Castle – $94,800

1. Barbie by Stefano Canturi – $302,500

What are the most expensive barbie dolls of all time?

10. Marie Antoinette

Photo: Mattel

"Carrying a handcrafted porcelain pair of roses, Barbie doll is the height of royalty as Marie Antoinette who became the Queen of France when her husband was crowned King Louis XVI in the 18th century. She wears a regal blue gown and matching bodice that is embellished with touches of golden lace. Draped with golden fringe, the generous layers of her extravagant gown are decorated with golden tassels and hide her full-length pantaloons and the blue satin ribbons on her shoes. A matching hat topped with feathers completes her ensemble. She wears an extravagant rhinestone necklace that complements her dramatic ensemble".

Marie Antoinette was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an archduchess of Austria and was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. She became dauphine of France in May 1770 at age 14 upon her marriage to Louis-Auguste, heir apparent to the French throne. On 10 May 1774, her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI and she became queen.

The first doll in this collection was Marie Antoinette in 2003. Queen Elizabeth followed in 2004 and Empress Josephine in 2005. The most expensive and sought-after is Marie Antoinette, probably because of her beauty and the complex and elaborate dress.

Although it is one of the most expensive and limited-edition Barbie dolls, fortunately, it is not difficult to find and can be found online for sale.

9. Sweet Dreams Barbie

Photo: Expensive World

Now we redirect our attention to Sweet Dreams No.2 Brunette Barbie.This superb Barbie doll was sold for $5,500.

An anonymous buyer bought the doll at Dan Morphy Auctions in December 2010.

The price might surprise you, but in reality is a bit low for a rare version of the 2nd Barbie doll.

The Sweet Dreams doll came in a box with a complete Sweet Dreams fashion which includes diary, apple, open toe mules and alarm clock.

At the price of $5,500 this Sweet Dreams Barbie is one of the most expensive Barbie Dolls.

8. Lorraine Schwartz Barbie

Photo: Flickr

Lorraine Schwartz, a New York-based jewelry designer designed this Barbie and she flaunts a gorgeous diamond jewelry worth more than $25,000, and it includes diamond trimmed heels, stunning bracelets, beautiful hanging earrings, and a ‘B’ pendant around the waist. Just 12 of such dolls were made, making it a very rare piece. Barbie here is dressed in a tight-fitting black tube dress that makes her look all the more gorgeous. The doll was sold in an auction for just $7500.

Lorraine Schwartz is an American bespoke high jewellery designer. She has designed jewelleries for a host of famous female celebrities including Beyoncé, Blake Lively and Kim Kardashian. In 2009, Angelina Jolie showed up at the Oscars wearing a pair of emerald earrings designed by Lorraine Schwartz which cost $2.5 million.

7. Abend Barbie Gala

Photo: Flickr

This is a Barbie doll that was marketed in 1965 exclusively in Japan and Europe, hence its rarity. Her outfit is the most expensive in the French line of Barbie dolls and was designed by Anne Marie Crivelli.

In 2006, a copy of the Abend Barbie Gala was sold at auction at Christie’s, fetching no less than $ 13,673.

The doll was a true inspiration for the girls around the world for more than 50 years. It even had a biography written about her.

6. Pink Diamond Barbie

Photo: Getty Images

Celebrity fashion designers Phillipe and David Blond have shrunken their clothing for a much smaller client: Barbie. Known for their fun and glamorous approach to fashion, the team, known as The Blonds, have given Barbie a pink diamond touch you won't see in toy stores.

Estimated to be worth $15,000 at auction, Barbie's ensemble is inspired by a runway look from The Blonds' 2008 show. Bill Greening, Principal Designer at Mattel, worked with them to create the pink diamond doll that debuted at The Blonds Spring 2013 show.

Barbie's dress and pumps, made of fuschia and rose gems, were "hand embellished by The Blonds themselves," a company statement says. Her look includes a faux fur coat, pink stud earrings and sparkling ring. A collector's item, the doll includes a display case and certificate of authenticity.

5. Barbie in Midnight Red

Photo: Amazon

This Barbie doll is called Barbie in Midnight Red and was released in 1965. In this case, it is not the most expensive barbies to come with a large number of diamonds, but simply because it is incredibly rare.

Both “Barbie in Midnight Red” and “Barbie in Midnight Pink” (in a pink dress) are highly sought after limited edition variants of the “Barbie in Midnight Blue” doll (in a blue dress).

In 2006 it was auctioned alongside other Barbie dolls from a large collection, and no one expected this one in particular to fetch a high price, but it sold for 9,000 pounds, which when converted and adjusted for inflation results in $ 17,091 today.

4. 1959 Barbie

Photo: Getty Images

Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.

Barbie is the figurehead of a brand of Mattel dolls and accessories, including other family members and collectible dolls. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over sixty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parodies of the doll and her lifestyle.

Barbie and her boyfriend Ken have been described as two most popular dolls in the world. Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company's largest and most profitable line. However, sales have declined sharply since 2014. The doll has transformed the toy business in affluent communities worldwide by becoming a vehicle for the sale of related merchandise (accessories, clothes, friends of Barbie, etc.). Writing for Journal of Popular Culture in 1977, Don Richard Cox noted that Barbie has a significant impact on social values by conveying characteristics of female independence, and with her multitude of accessories, an idealized upscale life-style that can be shared with affluent friends. Starting in 1984, Barbie has expanded into a media franchise, including animated films, television specials, video games and music.

3. De Beers Barbie

Photo: Getty Images

The world's most expensive Barbie doll, designed by De Beers, is dressed in an evening gown decorated with 160 diamonds and she has complimentary gold jewelry and accessories.

"This Barbie was produced to mark the 40th anniversary in 1999 comes and was retailed at $85,000. Whilst if you think it is a too expensive deal to be done then you can eye 1959 Barbie No. 1 carrying a price tag of $8000," according to Elite Choice.

This is one doll you may not want your kids to play with!

2. Barbie And The Diamond Castle

Photo: Getty Images

Another Barbie doll of which there is only one. This was created in 2018 to promote the movie Barbie and the Diamond Castle.

It should not be confused with the Barbie dolls based on the film that can be found in any store, because this one is very different: it has no less than 318 real diamonds, weighing a total of 20.66 carats!

Although it was never sold or auctioned, its price is estimated at $ 94,800 for the value of the diamonds it includes.

1. Barbie by Stefano Canturi

Photo: Canturi

Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi spent six months working on the smallest client he’s ever had: toymaker Mattel asked him to design a Barbie doll that would be the most expensive in the world.

If you don’t pay too much attention to the business of jewelry, you may not know Canturi’s name, but you’ve probably seen his work. The “Satine” necklace in “Moulin Rouge” was a Canturi piece. His designs have also sparkled in “The Matrix,” “Superman Returns,” and on the necks and arms of Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Minogue and others.

The doll went up for auction at Christie’s in New York and has been sold in October 2010 for $302,500, making it the most expensive Barbie doll in the world.

It has a diamond necklace, with a rare 1 carat Australian pink Argyle diamond in the center. The necklace has 3 carats of white diamonds. she also wears a Canturi diamond ring on her right hand, matching the intricate neckpiece. It was auctioned in 2010, and the money raised was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Stefano Canturi (born in Australia) began creating jewellery at the age of 21. There are currently three Canturi jewelry salons located in Australia and one in Las Vegas. In July 2009, Canturi opened his fifth store at 66th Street and Madison Avenue in New York. Canturi’s fascination with design and sculpture began at a young age when he would spend hours carving miniature sculptures out of chalk at the back of the classroom. While Canturi was in his last year of high school, his mother, who recognized Stefano’s talent and ability, encouraged him to visit an Italian master jeweller. Stefano instantly realised this was his life’s passion. During his apprenticeship, Canturi became fascinated with jewellry’s ability to marry artistic craftsmanship with the conceptual challenges of innovative design. Canturi devoted five years to intensive training before striking out on his own at just 21 years of age. Now 43, the designer continues to fuse inspiration with an in-depth knowledge of his craft.