The Lego Group was founded in Denmark by Ole Kirk Christensen back in 1932. They are best known for their interlocking brick toys, known as Lego. The company was family owned and remains so to this day.
Lego is a timeless and ageless product, from young children through to adults, fans of the bricks come from all spheres of life. The versatility of Lego means that there is something for everyone, from child to collector.
The range of products has expanded hugely over the years. Alongside generic brick sets there are a huge number of different ranges and themes. These include licensed lines such as Harry Potter, Minecraft, or Ghostbusters alongside Lego’s own ranges such as City, Architecture, and Ideas.
During Lego’s 86 year life as you would expect many much-loved sets have been discontinued. This has led to a market for retired sets which are particularly coveted. Some Lego sets have gained a desirable status and due to being unable to buy them new are worth thousands of dollars.
Some of these sets are valuable due to their limited availability, such as the Lego Inside tour sets. The Lego Inside Tours are exclusive events, admitting just a small number of people each year to tour Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s original house and see an extraordinary exhibition of vintage Lego sets and models.
Not every old Lego set is a goldmine, however. Some are so terrible I’m pretty sure even Lego would like to forget them. Here are 15 of the most valuable Lego sets ever released alongside 15 which are truly terrible.
30 Expensive: Lego Inside Tour 2005 Edition H.C Anderson's "Clumsy Hans" 4000020 Worth $7375
This limited edition set is the most valuable Lego set on the list and features a cowboy style figure.
It was produced and hand numbered in 4 batches of 80. Each of these has a different photograph on the back of the sleeve, meaning there are 4 different versions in total. In each batch of 80, 1 was reserved for the Lego vault, 30 were given to participants of the Inside Lego Tour and the rest were distributed amongst employees involved with the tour.
Due to the very limited availability and exclusivity of this set it is now considered the most valuable Lego set.
29 Worst: Timecrusers Hypno Cruiser 6492/1853
I am reliably informed by Brickipedia that this insane looking set is a Hypno Cruser which includes such highlights as “a cow-catcher like construction” and a “containment area for Time Crusers hats”
I don’t even know where to begin on this one.
When I first saw it I assumed it was an entry into one of those competitions were pre-school kids build their dream car. The propeller, the whirly wheels that may not be wheels, all the other wheels. There aren’t even words to describe the madness.
28 Expensive: LEGO Millennium Falcon 10179 worth $2413
This version of the Millennium Falcon was first produced in 2007 and then discontinued in 2009. Although it appears similar in appearance to the current Millennium Falcon set it is, in fact, quite a lot smaller. This 2007 set has just over 5000 pieces, compared to the 7500 pieces of the latest set.
Although this older set does understandably lack some of the incredible detail of the latest one it is still an amazing and much coveted Lego replication of the Star Wars ship.
27 Worst: Belville Rosita's Wonderful Stable 5833
This Belville set from the Fairy-Tales series was released in 2001. Despite its relatively modern age it definitely fails to meet my expectations. I am fairly certain it's false advertising to describe this as creation as either “wonderful” or in fact as a “stable”
The set comprises a flimsy looking doll with an umbrella, a horse and a 2 brick castle-style wall with a turret on top. I am entirely unsure how one castle-style wall comprises a stable. The only redeeming feature of this set is that the horse looks like a horse, kind of.
26 Expensive: Lego Factory Market Street 10190 worth $1152
The Lego Market Street set is part of the Modular Buildings set and was released in 2007. It can be combined with other buildings including the Cafe Corner, Grand Emporium, Palace Cinema, and Pet Shop, to create a town.
The marketplace set is the smallest of the buildings but the most expensive to acquire.
The modular buildings sets are part of the Creator series and are large detailed buildings which connect together. There were 9 sets in total and most cost around $150 at the time of release.
25 Worst: Mr. Bunny 10071
This 2003 seasonal set must surely depict one of the most sinister bunnies I’ve seen outside of a Monty Python movie.
The 25 piece set enables you to construct a yellow bunny with blue, pants, a red shirt and a red hat who will haunt your dreams for years to come.
I’m sure there are some people who think Mr. Bunny is perfectly lovely but I’m definitely not one of them. He’s right up there on my “nope, I don’t need to see this” list, next to clowns.
24 Expensive: Taj Mahal 10189 worth $1422
This Lego replica of the Taj Mahal is part of the sculptures set and was released in 2008. It is the third largest Lego set ever produced at 5922 pieces. It is surpassed only by the 2017 Millennium Falcon (7542 pieces) and the 2018 Hogwarts Castle (6020 pieces)
The set is designed for display purposes and is a stunning replica of the white marble structure in Agra, India. It comprises of 3 separate parts, the dome, mid-section, and a square plinth. The set has since been replaced with set 10256.
23 Worst: Police Unit 3314
This Police Unit set has mixed reviews across the internet. I’ve included it here for its novelty value and random context. It’s actually quite a decent set on the face of it. It contains a couple of Police vans and 4 mini figures.
The quirky part is that it's part of a Shell garage promotion for the 1998 World Cup.
It forms part of a set which comes together to make a stadium. The other sets make sense, being stages, a commentary box, light poles, and a medical unit. However, adding the riot police to the mix seems a little in bad taste.
22 Expensive: Star Wars Rebel Blockade Runner 10019 Worth $1330
This 1748 piece set from 2001 is part of the ultimate collectors series. It is a detailed and faithful recreation of Princess Leia’s Tantative IV. Like all Ultimate Collectors sets, it is designed for display purposes. Unlike many others this model is so heavy it requires 2 support stands.
The set retailed for $199.99 and was retired in 2003. It contains 3 separate parts which are attached together using Technic pins. Despite the cockpit being slightly out of scale, this is still a much loved and valuable set.
21 Worst: Galidor Nick 4040
This 2002 set from the Galidor series is allegedly the character Nick. I say allegedly because its appearance resembles that of a cheap imitation of the larger set (which isn’t much better)
The toy was actually a promotional gift from McDonald's, which explains some of the terrible quality, but it still baffles me why Lego wanted to put their name to this cheap looking freebie.
The rest of the Galidor series is slightly better but the vast majority still oozes that fake vibe. Definitely not what I’ve come to expect from Lego.
20 Expensive: Lego Inside Tour 2014 edition - Legoland Train 4000014 worth $2748
Designed for the 2014 Lego Inside Tours this set is a replication of the Legoland Billund train and was designed by Steen Sig Andersen.
As with all Lego Inside Tour items, this was produced in 4 sets of 80, one for each of the tours.
This means that you can expect to pay a hefty price if you want to add one of these to your collection. The Lego Inside Tour items are the most restricted and most expensive Lego sets available.
19 Worst: Jack Stone Super Glider 4612/1435
This set has been referred to as the worst Lego set ever, and with good reason. Despite the packaging trying to jazz it up, this set falls very flat on its face. It comprises of a Jack Stone mini figure and a cheap looking hand glider with about 5 parts.
Randomly this set appears to have been re-released as a promotional gift by Kabaya, a Japanese confectionery company. I guess it was so bad they had to give it away. I’m not sure I’d even appreciate getting this for free if I’m honest.
18 Expensive: Statue Of Liberty 3450 worth $2131
This Lego replica of the Statue of Liberty was released back in 2000 and contains 2899 pieces. At the time it was released it Was the largest Lego set produced and cost $1.99.
Fans of the set praise it for its attention to detail and its size, which is over 2.5 feet tall.
There is a current Statue of Liberty set but it is smaller, at 1685 pieces and has a pedestal. This makes it a much smaller replica than the year 2000 version, which scales well with Lego villages.
17 Worst: Scala Summer Days Out 3121
This creepy looking set comes from the Scala series and was released in 1998. It contains a scary looking baby in a pram alongside a dalmatian that appears to be much bigger than the child. They also have a handy umbrella, teddy bear, and picnic.
It’s the size of the dog and the babies appearance which stands out here. I’m fairly sure the baby (who is apparently named Thomas) could escape the pram and ride the dog home if he wanted. Not that I’m sure what he wants, I can’t look at him without feeling like he’s staring into my soul.
16 Expensive: Star Wars Death Star ll 10143 worth $1971
This Star Wars Death Star set was available from 2005 until 2007 in the UK, however, sets were still on sale until 2009 in parts of the west
At 3449 pieces and a $299 price tag, it was a smaller and less detailed set than the current 3803 piece $399 Death Star.
This now costly set is focused mainly on the exterior of the ship, showing the Death Star as it is seen in the original trilogy, rather than the interior heavy appearance of the more recent set.
15 Worst: Jolly Santa 30478
This holiday Lego was released in 2017 and I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on with this Santa’s beard. I understand that in Lego it’s difficult to recreate certain things but this blocky beard gives this St Nick a very sinister appearance.
It looks to me like he’s been gagged, maybe to stop him spilling the news of who‘s been naughty and nice?
I have Lego Santa figures myself. Every single one looks far more appealing than this eye-catching hospital mask wearing disaster. Here’s hoping that in this years seasonal Lego Santa gets a makeover.
14 Expensive: Sculptures Grand Carousel 10196 Worth $1847
The Grand Carousel is part of the sculptures series and was released in 2009. It features a detailed carousel model and 9 mini figures. The set also includes music and can even move, due to the addition of the Lego power functions.
The attention to detail and moving parts are what makes this set really shine. Even the swing boats and horses move up and down as the carousel turns. Details including a canvas roof and ornate decoration have ensured this set is highly desirable.
13 Worst: Star Wars Assassin Droids Battle Pack 8015
This 94 piece Assassin Droids Battle Pack was released in 2009 as part of the Star Wars Episode 2: The Clone Wars line. It contains a speeder and what are billed as Assassin Droid and Elite Assassin Droid mini figures.
This battle droid creation starts off promising, creatively using different existing pieces to construct the robot body. When you compare it to the actual droids its ok. It’s the heads which just make me wonder why. Couldn’t they at least have added some features to them? Faceless describes this set perfectly.
12 Expensive: Lego Inside Tour 2012 Edition - Piper Airplane 4000012 Worth $4016
This set is very exclusive and valuable due to its incredibly limited availability. On the surface it seems like nothing special, being a fairly simple plane and control tower. Its value is in its rarity, rather than its design.
The Piper Airplane was the 2012 Lego Inside Tour set, which means it has a very limited run being available only to those on or involved in the 2012 tour.
This is one set which is likely to appeal mostly to completists and collectors of the Inside Tour Lego.
11 Worst: Belville Garden Fun 5820
This 1996 Belville set features a girl on a swing, apparently having fun in her garden. Like many Belville sets, the focus appears to be on how pink can we make this set? Rather than is this set actually good?
Although playground swings can be great fun this set fails to look like it to me. On this image, even the girl herself looks bored and I’m fairly sure that vaguely cat shaped blob isn’t impressed either. She also looks like she’s never had safety tips about how to behave on a swing. My mum would never have allowed this behavior!