Passion and persistence collide where collectibles are concerned, with people from all walks of life dedicating thousands of dollars, hours, and energy into building their collections. The latest collectible in town? Labubu dolls, which gained traction when it was revealed that Lalisa of BLACKPINK had a collection. But, it’s not the first, nor will it be the last toy that has garnered celebrity attention. In light of that, we look at all the celebrities who collect toys, as well as what they favour.
For as long as humans have walked the earth, we have gathered trinkets and trophies. Like magpies drawn to shiny things, many humans enjoy the process of collecting, cataloguing, and displaying conspicuous symbols of their hobbies and interests. While sports fans may collect jerseys, hats, and various other paraphernalia popularised by their sporting idols, pop culture fans have long made lucrative hobbies out of collecting action figurines and toys. From trading cards and rogue baseballs to vinyl records and rare liquors, the possibilities are endless when it comes to building a collection.
Meet the hottest new collector’s item in town: The Labubu doll from Kasing Lung’s The Monsters collection of collectibles, produced and distributed by Pop Mart.
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The toothy little monster recently enjoyed a supersonic burst of popularity when K-Pop girl group BLACKPINK’s Lalisa Manobal was revealed to have a collection. Lisa’s passive endorsement proved to be incredibly lucrative for Pop Mart, with toys and other accessories from The Monsters collection flying off the shelves at the speed of light. Want to buy one to get in on the hype? You’d best be prepared for war, with BLACKPINK fans (also known as Blinks) storming to Pop Mart retailers en masse, eager to grab a Labubu of their own.
So why are collectibles and rare finds such a big deal?
The lucrative side of toy collecting
Not all collectors engage in the art of curation simply for profit. Lalisa’s fans, for example, are likely embroiled in Labubu fever for the pure and simple purpose of owning a toy beloved by their idol. However, it cannot be denied that the collectible industry has become a lucrative endeavour enjoyed by those with the means to sink up to millions in purchasing the rarest of finds; most notably, the industry is worth a whopping USD 601.2 billion as of 2024.
Topping the list of the most expensive collectibles ever sold is a 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin, which survived the gold confiscation of the Great Depression. A true collector’s item, the coin was sold for USD 18.9 million in 2021 and remains the only legal-to-own version available in the world today. The coin is not alone in fetching jaw-dropping figures. In 2022, a Mickey Mantle Topps card from 1952 fetched USD 12.6 million, setting a record by becoming the most expensive baseball card ever sold.
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Considering the potential of the collectible resale market, it makes sense that many have made livelihoods of the industry, turning huge profits from reselling rare finds, special editions, and sports paraphernalia among other things. Understandably, exclusivity and rarity are both essential to the resale market and can significantly boost the selling price of a collectible by millions.
With millions on the line, the race is on for collectors seeking to turn passion into profit. Yet, where these stars are concerned, the true joy of collecting lies beyond the dollars and cents. Read on to learn more about these 10 celebrities who collect toys and other collectibles.
Celebrities who collect toys and other collectibles
Lalisa Manobal – Labubu
Lisa made Labubu price go to the moon again#LISA #LALISA
— Lilies Home (@LiliesHome_) April 16, 2024
pic.twitter.com/v9yU6GdF4a
BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently revealed that she owns a collection of Labubu dolls from Kasing Lung’s The Monsters collection. In a now-expired Instagram story, the world-renowned singer was shown gleefully unboxing her collection of Labubu toys. Further fuelling the Labubu hype train, Lisa also posted a picture sporting a blue plush Labubu pendant keychain from the Macaron series, pairing it with a Constance bag from Hermès. To thank Lisa for her passive endorsement of his work, The Monsters creator Kasing Lung revealed in an interview that he sent her a mega Labubu.
Emma Roberts – Dollikins dolls
This past April, actress Emma Roberts gave a tour of her Los Angeles home to Architectural Digest, revealing her collection of dolls. In the video, an excited Roberts showed off her ‘Doll Wall’, pointing out several Dollikins dolls including her first (and favourite) of the lot. Roberts then showed off ‘Leggy Jill’, adding that she had been looking for the doll for over a year before her boyfriend finally surprised her with it on her birthday. “I took her out of the box, which he did not approve of,” Roberts said, adding, “I take my dolls out of the box, which people get very up in arms about. But I feel like if you’re gonna collect dolls, you may as well enjoy them.”
Leonardo DiCaprio – Star Wars figurines
Leonardo DiCaprio buying The Phantom Menace toys. pic.twitter.com/Zse0d9kWk2
— HelloGreedo (@HelloGreedo) August 12, 2019
Among celebrities who collect toys, Leonardo DiCaprio is well known to have an incredible collection of vintage figurines from the Star Wars franchise. According to sources, DiCaprio’s priceless collection of around 80 figurines from the 1970s and 1980s are kept ‘under lock and key for protection’. According to reports, DiCaprio is known to use a pseudonym when bidding on rare items online, further fuelling his passion for growing his collection. Despite harbouring a keen interest in the Star Wars franchise and even meeting director George Lucas, DiCaprio interestingly turned down the role of Anakin Skywalker in the ’90s, expressing that he did not feel ready to take the dive.
The actor is also known to have auctioned off pieces of his collection in support of charitable causes, funded through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Beyond Star Wars figurines, DiCaprio also collects other vintage toys from other popular franchises like He-Man and Planet of the Apes.
Quentin Tarantino – Board games
Known for Pulp Fiction (1994), Inglorious Basterds (2009), and the Kill Bill franchise, director Quentin Tarantino lives up to his reputation as one who lives and breathes the film industry. A true devotee of the silver screen, Tarantino’s collection is composed of pop culture memorabilia, including vintage board games based on TV shows and movies. Among his collection are games inspired by popular cult-classic shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, Dawn of the Dead, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Welcome Back, Kotter. According to reports, Tarantino also collects television-related memorabilia including lunch boxes and action figures alike.
Johnny Depp – Barbies
While many celebrities have access to limited edition collectibles, few can boast of having a collection of Barbie dolls as expansive as actor Johnny Depp’s. According to reports, Depp’s foray into the wonderful world of Barbie first began when he used to play Barbie dolls with his daughter. During playtime, Depp practised a range of voices, with the endeavour serving him well in developing his movie roles. When his daughter eventually stopped playing with the dolls, the actor kept them, with reports suggesting he has gone on to expand his collection. Sources have claimed that Depp owns dozens of limited-edition Barbie dolls. Additionally, the actor also collects celebrity dolls, including Donny and Marie Osmond, Beyonce and Destiny’s Child, Elvis Presley, New Kids on the Block, and the High School Musical cast.
Rosie O’Donnell – Mcdonald’s toys
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According to reports, comedian Rosie O’Donnell has a collection comprising over 2,500 Happy Meal toys from McDonalds. O’Donnell has proudly displayed her collection on her talk show desk. In an interview with People magazine, it was revealed that she began collecting the toys in the 1980s, simply because they reminded her of her childhood.
Janet Jackson – Pig memorabilia
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Despite alleging that she had been called ‘pig’ and ‘cow’ by her brother Michael while growing up, Janet Jackson appears to have taken control of the narrative to great effect. The singer, who shared that her brother’s jibes had caused no small amount of anguish, ended up collecting porcelain pigs in her adult years.
Speaking to Contact Music in 2006, Jackson shed light on how she started her collection, sharing that she had no idea why. “I always wanted a hobby, so I decided to collect pigs. I have no idea why! And everyone started giving them to me.” However, the singer eventually came to the realisation that her pig memorabilia was taking up too much space, leading her to abandon the project. “I had hundreds of pigs. I mean, really, what was I supposed to do with them? So I gave it up!”
James Gunn – Funko Pops
Funko Pops are an integral element in the business of superhero-related collectibles. To the delight of fans and fandoms, characters from TV shows and movies spanning numerous genres and franchises have become immortalised in the form of these iconic, adorably large-headed figurines. Among the most popular Funko Pops? Marvel superheroes.
Director James Gunn of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is a known collector of Funko Pops, especially those relating to the franchise. Most notably, Gunn is one in 15 movie directors who have been honoured with Funko Pop figurines of their own. In 2017, Funko released a limited-edition James Gunn Pop which was sold at the New York Comic Con in October that same year, with only 500 available.
Robin Williams – Toy soldiers, robots, and figurines
While he lived, the world’s favourite funny man Robin Williams owned a massive collection of toys, figurines, and various other collectibles from a multitude of movie franchises. Notably, the beloved comedian’s collection included numerous toy soldiers, robots, and various figurines from the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons franchises.
After Williams’ tragic death in 2014, his daughter Zelda reached out to the internet for help in identifying the most obscure finds in his expansive collection.
Mike Tyson – X-Men collectibles
Evidently a huge fan of the X-Men franchise, boxer and actor Mike Tyson is also a renowned collector. His most prized collection? An assortment of ToyBiz X-Men action figures. In a 1996 interview with Roseanne Barr, Tyson shows off his incredible collection, even going so far as to break down the lore from X-Factor, a satellite X-Men team that few but hardcore fans would know.
(Main image: James Gunn/@jamesgunn/Instagram, Lisa Manobal/@lalalalisa_m/Instagram; featured image: James Gunn/@jamesgunn/Instagram)
This story first appeared here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The late Robin Williams, who was known to be a toy enthusiast, had a collection of toy soldiers.
People who collect toys can be referred to as ‘collectors’ or ‘hobbyists’.
Several celebrities collect dolls. BLACKPINK’s Lalisa collects Labubu dolls, while Johnny Depp collects Barbies. Actress Emma Robers is also known to be a collector of Dollikins dolls.
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Emmelyn curates and creates content in Kuala Lumpur, where she's spent the past decade building a portfolio comprising copy and video spanning both print and digital platforms. Endlessly fascinated with cookbooks, interior design, aesthetics, and video games, she is also an ardent foodie - a lemon tart, lychee martini, and coffee enthusiast. Her favourite animal is the common wombat. She's written one award winning cookbook.
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