Lego enthusiasts can shell out serious dough for the privilege of building the coolest, rarest, most extravagant sets.
Lego’s priciest advanced models are highly valued collector’s items. The most expensive retired Lego sets can fetch up to five figures. Among the most expensive include sets themed after Star Wars and major world landmarks like the Taj Mahal.
What makes certain Lego sets so expensive? It’s not solely because of the number of pieces or a popular franchise tie-in like Star Wars. The value of a Lego set often skyrockets after it retires.
“Rarity is the most important factor with any LEGO collectible,” said Ed Maciorowski, founder of Lego pricing guide BrickPicker. “If a set is rare, and desirable, and continues to be rare, it will remain valuable.”
Here are the most valuable Lego sets, according to the Lego collector’s website Brickpicker.
The most expensive LEGO sets of all time
10) Eiffel Tower
Value: $1,017.40
Number of pieces: 3,428
Notable features: The completed Lego Eiffel Tower is the tallest Lego model to date; standing at 42 inches. It features a French flag made out of Lego bricks.
9) Death Star II
Value: $1,423.67
Number of Pieces: 3,447
Notable features: The Lego Death Star II is built to scale with the original and includes a super laser.
8) Market Street
Value: $1,448.27
Number of pieces: 1,248
Notable features: “Market Street” is Lego’s second entry in its modular building series for adult builders. The set features curved staircases and interchangeable floors.
READ MORE:
- The best Lego sets of 2017 (so far)
- The 10 coolest Lego sets to empower girls
- The 10 best Star Wars Lego sets
7) Imperial Star Destroyer
Value: $1,504.93
Number of pieces: 3,096
Notable features: Released in 2002, this Lego retread of the Imperial Star Destroyer is every Star Wars fan’s dream.
READ MORE:
- 10 dark facts about Darth Maul, the tragic ‘Star Wars’ Sith Lord
- Meet porgs, the adorable new addition to the ‘Star Wars’ universe
- ‘Star Wars’: The complete movie calendar
6) Mr. Gold
Value: $1,632.60
Number of pieces: 1
Notable features: Made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lego’s Minifigures series, only 5,000 Mr. Gold figures were produced in total.
5) Statue of Liberty
Value: $1,699.36
Number of pieces: 2,882
Notable features: Lego’s Statue of Liberty model is made entirely of sand-green bricks.
4) Cafe Corner
Value: $1,714.27
Number of pieces: 2,056
Notable features: Lego’s “Cafe Corner” features three stories, a mosaic, and a bicycle.
3) Grand Carousel
Value: $2,214.80
Number of pieces: 3,263
Notable features: Lego’s electricity-powered Grand Carousel spins and plays music.
2) Taj Mahal
Value: $2,863.60
Number of pieces: 5,922
Notable features: Lego’s Taj Mahal became the company’s largest set when it was released in 2008.
1) Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon
Value: $4,532.00
Number of Pieces: 5,174
Notable features: Lego’s “Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon” is the largest Star Wars set and the second-largest Lego set ever made. It features Lego figures of Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.