【romanticism vs eroticism】

Picasso?romanticism vs eroticism Don't know him. Rolex? Don't care. The hottest item on the collectibles market right now is a mischievous, sharp-toothed, gremlin-like little girl named Labubu. And yes, someone just paid $150,000 for one.

That’s not a typo. As reported by CNN, at a recent auction in Beijing, a mint green, first-generation Labubu figure measuring a whopping 131 centimeters tall (that’s over four feet!) sold for 1.08 million yuan, or about $150,325.

Let’s pause for effect: $150K. For a toy figure with a devilish grin and bunny ears. If you weren't convinced by now, Labubu is an icon, a legend — and she is the moment.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

What makes this $150K Labubu so special?

This wasn’t your everyday Labubu plush keychain from Pop Mart (which typically retails anywhere from $27.99 to $39.99). This Labubu figure was the only one of its kind, auctioned at the prestigious Yongle International Auction House, which normally deals in fine jewelry and modern art. So when the auctioneer banged the gavel and congratulated the anonymous online bidder, it wasn’t just a win; it was a moment in collectible toy history.

The minty mischief-maker stood tall like a playful art statue, and it wasn’t alone. The auction featured 48 rare Labubus, including a 160 cm brown version that went for a cool $114,000. Only 15 of those exist, but even that couldn’t top the green figure's jaw-dropping price tag.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

So, why are people paying Range Rover money for a Labubu?

Thank the global Labubu craze.

Created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and mass-produced by Chinese toy powerhouse Pop Mart, Labubu isn’t your average cuddle toy. It’s part art, part misfit charm, part collector goldmine. Think of it as the lovechild of a Nordic folklore creature and a TikTok star, with a resale value much higher than its price tag. It's not uncommon for people to pay double or triple retail price for a Labubu keychain, and limited-edition drops and collabs can go for hundreds of dollars on sites like StockX.

Toothy, trendy, and now worth $150K. Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

The demand is there. Pop Mart stores regularly see long lines and sold-out releases for Labubu drops. Blind boxes, where you don’t know which character you’re getting, are snapped up instantly, and $28 toys are being flipped online for over $270. Labubu isn’t just trending — she's a pop culture phenomenon.

Celebrities like BLACKPINK's Lisa, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and even basketball star Dillon Brooks have sported Labubus clipped to their handbags and belt loops. Labubu is fashion's most playful accessory, a toothy vehicle for self-expression and the ultimate symbol of consumer culture.

As Mashable previously reported, business is booming for Pop Mart. "Labubu is currently Pop Mart's top-selling IP in the U.S. and one of the strongest globally," Emily Brough, Pop Mart's head of IP licensing for the Americas, told Mashable. In 2024 alone, Labubu generated more than $419 million, outperforming all other IPs in the company’s catalog. And the company's revenue in China alone topped $1.09 billion, up 34 percent from the previous year, reports CNN. Globally, Pop Mart profits shot up 125 percent, driven largely by Labubu-mania.

Topics TikTok

• Games
• Shopping
• Tech
• Entertainment
• Life
• Science
• Deals
• Digital Culture

• Best smart scale deal: Save over $25 on Renpho Smart Scale
• Watch this shark swim right below surfers like its NBD
• Why Emma Watson is hiding books on the London Underground
• You can play 'Snake' in the Google Maps app
• Will Oracle take over TikTok? Trump says he'll make a decision in 30 days
• 'Broad City' stars mark show's end with perfectly mushy Instagram posts
• Joe Biden can't wait to show Obama his "I Voted" Sticker
• John Lithgow wants to play Boris Johnson if there's a Brexit film
• Best laptop deal: Get the 14
• Byton dramatically tests upcoming electric car in snowy Inner Mongolia

• The Macaron That Tastes Like Marina Abramovic
• Bing & Ruth and Amy & David
• Barney’s Wall: An Evening with Barney Rosset and ‘The Paris Review’
• Redux: Grace Paley (and Our New Book) by The Paris Review
• What's Scarier: Library Fines or Turning Into a Scarecrow?
• Dear Lynda: I Want to Eat My Boyfriend's Pets
• The Called Shot by Rich Cohen
• Kathy Acker’s Blood and Guts in High School
• Suitcase Full of Candy: An Interview with Svetlana Alexievich
• Pina Bausch’s ‘The Rite of Spring’

• Best Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds deal: Save $35 at Amazon
• 'Broad City' stars mark show's end with perfectly mushy Instagram posts
• Behold the hideous 6
• OnePlus teases electric car, which apparently consists of curves
• Three Apps to Combine All Your Messaging Clients Into One
• Intense video shows a vape exploding inside a dude's pocket
• 'Law and Order: SVU' renewed for record
• Twitter users question the timing of a new FBI document dump
• GPU Availability and Pricing Update: April 2022
• Crash Bandicoot has an 'Australian accent' and our ears are bleeding

• CES 2025: Everything to expect
• How to upgrade AirPods for better fit, sound, and performance
• Why Emma Watson is hiding books on the London Underground
• Hey Obama, here's how to troll Trump like a pro
• The Ideal Smartphone for 2017
• Tom Brady's April Fools' Day prank sucks
• Joe Biden outshines the sun by putting on Ray
• Joe Biden outshines the sun by putting on Ray
• Trump praises storm response as historic disaster unfolds in Houston
• Burger King tricked a bunch of burger fans into eating a plant