• A rare Skater Labubu figure originally priced at $85 just sold on eBay for $10,500, making it the most expensive Labubu ever sold.
• Pop Mart’s limited-edition “blind box” model and ultra-rare secret figures fuel high demand and skyrocketing resale prices.
• Fans and collectors face growing frustration over chaotic releases and resellers dominating the market.

What would make someone spend over $10,000 on a tiny vinyl toy?

That’s exactly what happened when one rare Labubu figure—originally sold for just $85—was snapped up on eBay this week for a jaw-dropping $10,500. That’s 125 times its original price. And it now holds the title of the most expensive Labubu ever sold.

This isn’t just another toy sale. It’s a symbol of a growing frenzy around these quirky collectibles, and it’s shaking up the world of pop culture merchandise.

A Tiny Skater Monster With a Giant Price Tag

The record-breaking Labubu wasn’t gold-plated, diamond-encrusted, or signed by a celebrity. It was a special Skater Labubu, originally released in 2023 as part of a limited-edition collaboration between Pop Mart—a Chinese toy company—and a niche shoe brand. It came in one of Pop Mart’s popular “blind boxes,” where buyers never know which toy they’re getting until they open it.

That element of surprise, combined with Pop Mart’s tightly controlled supply, has turned Labubu into a collector’s dream—and a flipper’s goldmine.

But even the most seasoned collectors didn’t expect to see a Labubu fetch five figures.

“This is absolutely wild,” said one long-time collector on Instagram. “I remember seeing this one on shelves for under $100. Now it’s selling for the price of a used car.”

Why Would Anyone Pay So Much?

To outsiders, it sounds insane. But for fans, this Labubu is more than just a toy. It’s a status symbol, an ultra-rare piece of pop culture history, and a potential investment that could grow even more in value.

Experts in collectibles aren’t surprised. Lori Verderame, a well-known appraiser and host on the History Channel, says the market for rare Labubus has been heating up for months.

“Their unique designs and very limited production runs make them irresistible to collectors,” she explained. “And with resale platforms making it easy to buy and sell globally, the demand is outpacing supply at an incredible rate.”

The Secret World of Blind Boxes

Pop Mart’s business model plays a huge role in this madness. Most Labubu toys are sold for $20 to $40, packaged in sealed boxes that don’t reveal which figure is inside. It’s like buying a lottery ticket. Occasionally, you’ll pull a “secret” edition—a rare figure hidden in the series with odds as low as 1 in 72 or even 1 in 144.

The Skater Labubu that just sold for \$10,500 was one of those ultra-rare variants.

When you consider the odds, it could take hundreds—or even thousands—of boxes just to get one. That scarcity drives prices into the stratosphere.

“People chase the high of pulling a rare one,” said Alex Fung, pop culture consignment director at Goldin Auctions. “But most don’t get lucky. So when one shows up for resale, buyers are willing to pay anything.”

Fans Line Up. Chaos Breaks Out.

The hype around Labubu is no longer confined to online forums. Every week, when Pop Mart drops new stock—either online at 9 p.m. Thursday or in stores at 10 a.m. Friday—fans line up early, sometimes camping out in front of stores.

In London, shoppers have dubbed it the “Labubu Hunger Games,” as fights, shoving matches, and general chaos have forced some stores to cancel restocks entirely.

It’s gotten so wild that Pop Mart has had to tighten security and rethink its restocking strategy in certain cities.

“I lined up at 5 a.m. and still left empty-handed,” one fan complained on TikTok. “People were pushing, screaming. It was like a concert mosh pit—just for toys.”

Behind the Brand: Billionaire Dreams

The man benefiting most from all this frenzy is Wang Ning, the 38-year-old CEO of Pop Mart. He licensed the Labubu design from a little-known illustrator in 2019 and transformed it into a global phenomenon.

In just a few short years, Wang’s personal fortune has skyrocketed from $2 billion to $22 billion, according to Forbes. And it’s easy to see why. Pop Mart’s releases sell out in minutes. Their stores are packed with shoppers. And resale values just keep climbing.

Labubu isn’t just a fad. It’s a business empire.

Flippers vs. Collectors: Tension in the Community

Not everyone is thrilled about the soaring prices. Many long-time fans feel pushed out by professional resellers—known as “flippers”—who buy up all the stock and immediately list it online at steep markups.

“It used to be about the art and the story,” said Jess, a New York-based collector. “Now it feels like a stock market. You’re not competing with fans anymore—you’re competing with bots and people who just want to make a quick buck.”

Social media is full of heated debates. Some argue that Pop Mart encourages this frenzy by deliberately underproducing popular models. Others say it’s the natural result of popularity and demand.

Either way, the battle between flippers and genuine collectors is growing louder every week.

What’s Next for Labubu?

With this $10,500 sale, the stakes have officially been raised.

Will future Labubus fetch even higher prices? Possibly. Especially as Pop Mart continues to release new themes and introduce even rarer secret editions. Already, upcoming collections teased for late 2025 have fans buzzing, with sneak peeks of a glow-in-the-dark Labubu and a rumored gold-plated holiday edition.

Auction houses like Goldin and even Sotheby’s have taken notice, hinting they may begin offering high-end Labubu pieces in future pop culture auctions.

What started as a cute character in a plastic box has now become a serious investment for some—and a cultural obsession for many.

A Collector’s Jackpot

For one lucky seller, the $85 Labubu turned into a $10,500 payday. For the buyer, it’s a prize they’ll likely display like fine art.

And for everyone else watching from the sidelines?

It’s a wild reminder that in today’s world, even a tiny toy with a mischievous grin can break the bank—and break the internet.

The Labubu craze is real. And it’s not slowing down anytime soon.