The World's Most Valuable Collector's Items

99. Monopoly Original Game

Manufacturer: Lizzie Magie (now Hasbro)
original price: US$ 5 to US$ 10*
Worth today: US$ 146,500*

Lizzie Magie, an economist who wanted to prove Henry George's "single tax theory," invented Monopoly. She wanted the game to illustrate the evil consequences of land monopolies, and her game, The Landlord's Game, was first released in 1906. It would become "Monopoly" sometime in the 1920s or 1930s.

An original oilcloth with the hand-drawn game was sold at Sotheby's for $ 146,500. It was owned by Charles Darrow, who claimed to have invented the game, but he didn't – Magie did, and he stole the idea from her. Despite Darrow's theft, the rare piece of Monopoly history still doubled its expected selling price.