A Big McDonald's Toy From 1997 Is Worth More Money Today And Still Gaining Value

A trip to McDonald's involves more than just food –- sure, you can get your favorite burgers, fries, nuggets, and drinks quickly and relatively affordable, but oftentimes what lasts are the memories of who you shared the meal with. For some Golden Arches lovers in the 1990s, reliving these fond times is easy, particularly when you have a memento from your visit in the form of a Happy Meal toy.

Beyond the joy these toys brought and the warm, fuzzy nostalgia they might still invoke, a lot of McDonald's Happy Meal toys are worth a ton of money by today's standards. If you happened to stop by a McDonald's in 1997, and picked up a vintage McDonalds Happy Meal Girl doll, you could have a piece of nostalgia worth nearly $100. As Work and Money reports, the Happy Meal Girl dolls were surprisingly durable, which is why one sold for $99 back in August 2022.

There are plenty of McDonald's toys from the 1990s that are worth a ton of money today –- most from videogame tie-ins or movie releases –- but the Happy Meal Girl doll stands out due it's lack of tie-in, simply representing the burger brand. The design and engineering of the Happy Meal Girl doll also stands out. The box advertises that "She magically takes a bite of her cheeseburger" and that, when she sips her drink, noises are made that include slurping and burping.

Sellers on eBay have listed upwards of $145 for the blonde haired blue-eyed version of the toy, depending on the condition of the doll and if the box was sealed. However, an even rarer find is the same McDonald's Happy Meal Girl doll with brown hair and brown eyes, with one doll listed for $250 on eBay, as of July 2025.

Back in your childhood, toys were mainly for fun and entertainment, but now there is a market for buying and selling those now-vintage action figures, games, dolls, and accessories. The harder the toy is to find, the more likely it is to be valuable, such as a 1960s Batman figure that's worth $30,000 in 2025. However, you don't have to go back decades to find items that collectors are willing to pay top dollar for. For example, a super-sized McDonald's toy from 2022 sold for $1,500. So while you might think it's too late to start digging and collecting, the truth is that new toys are being released every day that might be valuable in the not-to-distant future.

For anyone looking to buy and sell toys to make money, The Penny Hoarder recommends that you start by determining the value of each toy. You can hire professionals to appraise and grade your toys, but sometimes the easiest thing is to log onto eBay and see what that same toy has sold for in the last few months. Your supply will ultimately affect how you price each individual item, so be aware of how much of the same toy you have for sale. And, whether you are looking to spend some money on purchasing a vintage toy to resell or want to put your own up for sale, the condition will always matter.