Drawer gold: Why your old iPods and iPhones are worth thousands

January 23, 2026

By Kim Komando

I want you to do something for me this weekend. Go to that drawer or closet in your house, you know the one. 

Dead batteries, tangled cables, old video games, maybe an iPod you haven’t touched since 2014. That junk might be worth serious cash.

📱 Old iPods

Apple killed the iPod in 2022, and now everyone wants one. Funny how that works.

• 1st-gen iPod Classic (the chunky white brick from 2001): $200-$500 used, up to $1,000 with the box
• iPod Mini: $20-$200 depending on condition
• iPod Nano: $30-$250 for sealed early models

A sealed 1st-gen sold for $29,000 in 2023. Even your scratched-up old Classic? $50-$100.

📞 Old iPhones

Still have an original 2007 iPhone that only worked on AT&T? Sit down for this.

• 1st-gen iPhone (sealed): $30,000-$190,000
• 1st-gen iPhone (opened, mint): A few thousand
• 1st-gen iPhone (used, scratched): Still potentially $500+

It needs to be pristine or sealed. But still, worth checking.

🎮 Vintage video games

Got old Nintendo cartridges? Some are worth more than a new PS5.

• Stadium Events (NES): $15,000-$35,000
• EarthBound (SNES): $300 loose, $1,700+ boxed
• Sealed Pokémon games: $500-$5,000+

Check pricecharting.com for real values.

📼 Don’t overlook these

• Sony Walkman: $100-$1,300
• Original Game Boy: $50-$150, rare editions up to $3,000
• Tamagotchi: $20-$300+
• Vintage Polaroids: $50-$300

💰 How to sell smart

First, find out what it’s actually worth. Go to eBay, search your item and filter by Sold Items. That’s real money, not fantasy prices.

Then pick your platform:

• eBay: Best reach for collectibles, ~13% fees
• Facebook Marketplace: No fees if you sell local
• Retro gaming stores: Less money, zero hassle

That junk is a scratch-off ticket you never checked. Most of it? Worthless. But one forgotten iPod or dusty cartridge could pay for dinner, a weekend getaway or a whole lot more.

So go look. Seriously. Do it before someone cleans up and tosses it all. I’m that person in our household. I can’t stand clutter.

Know someone who never throws anything away? Forward this to them. They might be sitting on a small fortune and not even know it. Heck, maybe they’ll even give you a cut!