Life-size Labubu doll sells for over $170,000 at Beijing auction amid global frenzy

HONG KONG — A life-size Labubu fig has been sold successful China for much than $170,000, a grounds for the highly sought-after toothy monster artifact boosted by celebrities.

The 4-foot-tall mint greenish doll, whose terms included a 15% commission, was traded successful Beijing connected Tuesday astatine what was billed arsenic the world’s archetypal auction dedicated to Labubu collectibles. Event organizer Yongle Auction said the life-size doll, which is made of hard integrative PVC, is the lone 1 of its kind.

The auction sold each 48 tons for full income of 3.73 cardinal yuan, oregon astir $520,000, with astir 1,000 collectors making bids either successful idiosyncratic oregon online, Yongle said successful a connection Wednesday. The lawsuit came amid a planetary frenzy implicit Labubu, which is sold successful “blind boxes” by Chinese artifact institution Pop Mart.

The “intense” bidding showed the “growing momentum of popular creation successful the auction market,” Yongle said, adding that it volition commencement holding Labubu auctions “regularly.”

The Labubu point that received the second-highest bid was different life-size fig that sold for much than $130,000 and measured 5 feet tall. Coming successful 3rd was a acceptable from a bid called “Three Wise Labubu” — 1 doll crossing its arms, 1 making a peekaboo gesture, and 1 covering its rima — that sold for much than $80,000 including commission.

A life-size Labubu figurine is displayed successful Beijing connected Friday earlier going connected auction.Tingshu Wang / Reuters

The occurrence of Labubu astatine auction reflects the “growing presence” of creation toys successful the marketplace and the advancement of Hong Kong and mainland China successful mounting trends successful modern culture, said Felix Kwok, a registered auctioneer of China and the laminitis of Art and Culture Exchange.

“In a somewhat stagnant creation auction market, this improvement is some stimulating and indicative,” helium told NBC News via messaging app.

Created successful 2015 by Hong Kong-born creator Kasing Lung, Labubu is 1 of “The Monsters” successful his children’s publication bid inspired by Nordic mythology. With high, pointed ears and serrated teeth, the tiny monster is “kind-hearted and ever wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite,” according to Pop Market.

Labubu dolls are often sold successful “blind boxes,” sealed packages whose contents are revealed lone upon opening. In the U.S. store, 1 unsighted container from a caller postulation retails for $27.99, portion a acceptable of six costs $167.94, though prices tin much treble connected resale sites specified arsenic eBay.

The dolls person besides been popularized by celebrities specified arsenic Rihanna and Lisa from the South Korean miss radical Blackpink, some of whom person been spotted sporting Labubu charms connected their handbags.

Despite the planetary commercialized disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs, fans person continued to enactment up astatine Pop Market shops crossed the satellite to bargain Labubu dolls. Last month, the Chinese retailer adjacent paused Labubu income successful each 16 shops successful the U.K. to debar information issues pursuing reports of disorderly lines and fights.

In the archetypal 3 months of this year, Pop Market’s overseas gross roseate astir 480% wide compared with a twelvemonth earlier, and astir 900% successful the Americas, according to its quarterly report.

As Labubu’s popularity soars globally, Wang Ning, the laminitis of Pop Market, became $8 cardinal richer betwixt 2024 and 2025, a fivefold summation successful his wealth, according to Forbes.