Old Tech Treasures: Could Your Attic Be Hiding a Fortune?

Ever thought about what's gathering dust in your attic? Some old tech might be worth a small fortune. But don't get too excited—most items won't make you rich. The real money is in brand-new, unopened gadgets. Still, even used or broken tech can fetch decent cash if it's rare or has an interesting backstory. Nostalgia is a big driver in the collectible tech market. People who grew up with early gaming systems like the NES are now adults with disposable income. If you've got something from the '80s or '90s, there might be a buyer out there. But don't expect to strike it rich. Most items will only sell for a few hundred dollars. Apple products are particularly popular among collectors. An original Apple I computer sold for $475, 000 in 2025. Only fifty of these wooden-cased computers were made, and just nine are known to still exist. If you've got one of the other 41 originals, you might be sitting on a goldmine.Vintage game consoles and games can also fetch high prices. A mint-condition NES sold for $50, 000 in 2023. The rarer deluxe version, which included a zapper gun and a robot buddy, sold for $120, 000. Even older games can be worth a lot. A copy of The Legend of Zelda sold for $870, 000. But it's not just computers and games that are worth money. Vintage digital watches, boomboxes, and even Tamagotchis can fetch high prices. A 1980s Casio Twin Graph watch sold for $7, 500 on eBay. A Sony boombox from the same era is currently on sale for $5, 699. And a rare Tamagotchi Devil model sold for $700. So, before you toss out that old tech, do some research. You might be surprised at what it's worth. But remember, most items won't make you rich. The real value is in the nostalgia and the stories behind these gadgets.