A Super-Sized McDonald's Toy From 2022 Is Now Worth Up To $1,500 Today

Some of McDonald's happy meal toys have gone on to be worth a lot of money, and although they've been included in meals since the 1970s, a toy released in 2022 could be worth as much as $1,500 to collectors if you have one. Initially branded as a Happy Meal toy for adults, this toy was part of a cross-branding partnership between a popular streetwear company and McDonald's, demonstrating that you're never too old to play with, or profit from, toys.

In a July 2023 Allrecipes accounting of the history of McDonald's happy meals, although American advertising executive Dick Abrams was widely considered the father of the Happy Meal after his passing in 1988, the average American childhood may owe their seminal Happy Meal experience to McDonald's franchise owners and married couple José and Yolanda Cofiño. After launching a McDonald's in Guatemala 1974, Yolanda Cofiño recognized the size of regular meals were too much for kids to finish. She had the idea to introduce smaller sized portions — mainly burgers and fries with the addition of a sundae for dessert — and more importantly, a toy for kids. Initially named "Ronald's Menu," its popularity grew enough that McDonald's corporate department not only asked the owners to present the concept at the 1977 World Franchise Convention, but also gave them a Ronald Award — an award recognizing the top 1% of most impactful franchise owners elevating the McDonald's brand in their communities — in 1982.

According to Culted, streetwear company Cactus Plant Flea Market (CPFM) was no stranger to fruitful brand partnerships and collaborations by the time its founder, Cynthia Lu, took on designing a limited run of Happy Meal boxes and toys for McDonald's. Rumored to have been given its name by old co-workers at Pharrell William's Billionaire Boys Club clothing line — Lu was known to keep a cactus on her desk — by the time of the McDonald's partnership, CPFM had already worked with brands like Stüssy and Nike. The company utilized the power of celebrity influencers, including LeBron James and Justin Bieber, who were seen wearing CPFM apparel, and did creative direction for Kanye West and Kid Cudi's "Kids See Ghosts" album, tour, and merchandise. A hoodie inspired by the tour is on StockX with a previous sale price of $551.

For McDonald's part, it also is no stranger to brand partnerships and collaborations, with limited-run celebrity meals that have featured the likes of Mariah Carey, Travis Scott, and BTS. The collaboration with Cactus Plant Flea Market included one of three of the most popular McDonald's characters, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdy, and CPFM mascot Cactus Buddy in a box styled by CPFM — Cactus Buddy wears McDonald's merchandise. Along with a side of fries and soft drink, the adult Happy Meal came with a Big Mac or 10-piece box of Chicken McNuggets. The twist? Each figure had four eyes instead of two.

While the unbelievable worth of certain Barbie dolls points to the lucrative aspects of toy collecting, you may not necessarily connect Happy Meal toys to an appreciative investment. However, when the meals initially rolled out on October 3rd, 2022 — priced between $9 and $13 — the limited edition Happy Meal sold out across the country in mere days. It didn't matter that the meals were more expensive than the average Big Mac combo, nor that the limited run was supposed to be offered until at least the end of the month.

According to Kotaku, the toy demand became a major cause of concern for McDonald's employees. An old Reddit post from a McDonald's employee demonstrates the frenzy for the Happy Meal product at the time, in a photo of a drive-thru order for eight Big Macs, 20 chicken nuggets, 10 orders of fries, and 10 drinks in the Happy Meal boxes on a 50% off coupon. This was made even worse by McDonald's own app, which may be the best way to save big money at McDonald's, but was crippling to the franchise's inventory and their employee's stress levels. On eBay in April 2024, a mint condition Cactus Plant Flea Market Happy Meal box and unopened Grimace toy sold on a single winning bid of $1,500. That said, a set of all four toys listed on eBay for $30,000.