As a data analyst who has been building with Lego since childhood, I have an appreciation for the intricate engineering that goes into their most complex sets. Recently Lego has pushed boundaries with incredibly detailed models aimed at adult collectors rather than kids.
The attention to accuracy and scale comes at a steep price – with some sets now costing over $800! What drives collectors to invest huge sums on small plastic bricks? As a Lego enthusiast myself, I decided to dive into the histories and stats behind the 5 most expensive sets on the market.
#1: LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon – $799.99
Kicking off the list is none other than the legendary Millennium Falcon starship, coming in at #1 based on its whopping $800 price tag. As Han Solo‘s hunk-of-junk home in the Star Wars universe, the Corellian YT-1300 light freighter holds nostalgic appeal for fans worldwide. Its iconic status and ties to major characters like Han, Chewie, Leia, and Luke drive demand.
Lego first launched a Ultimate Collector‘s Edition Millennium Falcon in 2007 which shattered records with 5,195 pieces. Yet 2017 saw an even more epic recreation touting 7,541 pieces measuring over 33 inches long and 23 inches wide. This more accurate rendition adds intricate exterior paneling and interior details including:
- Holochess Table
- Removable rectangular antenna panel
- Main hold with hyperdrive
- Cockpit seating for 3 minifigures
It also came with a cast of minifigures spanning the saga including Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia and C-3PO from the original trilogy as well as older Han, Rey, and Finn from the recent sequels showing its crossover appeal.
As a massive Star Wars fan myself, I vividly recall the 25 grueling hours it took me to assemble this beastly set. While 750 bucks may seem steep, getting lost in correctly aligning thousands of tiny bricks proved a rewarding build experience. Gazing at the striking completed model now displayed proudly my living room, I‘d say every penny was worth it!
- Set Name: LEGO Star Wars Millenium Falcon (75192)
- Year Released: 2017
- Minifigures Included: 7
- Measurements: 33" x 23" x 8" inches
- Piece Count: 7,541
- Price: $799.99
So why does this Lego set cost almost $800 even 5 years after its release?
For starters, acquiring the rights to Star Wars spacecraft adds licensing fees off the bat. The enormous piece count consisting mostly of tiny plates and tiles drives production expenses higher too.
But the sheer size, precise detailing, and links to such legendary source material make it a worthwhile investment that serious collectors covet in their showcases. Given itsbroad appeal and rising prices exceeding $1,000 on secondary markets, the 2017 Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon rightfully earns 1st place as the most expensive Lego set in history.
#2 LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series AT-AT: $849.99
Hot on its heels just this year however comes an Imperial machine giving the Falcon a run for its money when it comes to sticker shock…
The All Terrain Armored Transport Walker struck bone-chilling awe when first glimpsed in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. Their imposing size as four-legged mass weapons for Stormtroopers stood out as iconic Imperial tech.
Over the years Lego has designed many AT-AT sets to delight Star Wars fans through brick-built construction play. But their 2022 Ultimate Collector Series edition takes the AT-AT to uncharted heights, specifically 1 foot 8 inches tall!
Let‘s analyze the vital statistics behind this high-priced heavy-hitter:
- Set Name: LEGO Star Wars AT-AT Walker (75313)
- Year Released: 2022
- Minfigures Included: 9
- Measurements: 27” x 24” x 14” inches
- Piece Count: 6,785 pieces
- Price: $849.99
Yes, at a gut-wrenching $850, this imposing interpretation dwarfs all predecessors in size, detail, and assault on your wallet!
Over 2 feet tall and 2 feet long, the polished grey exterior intimidates from the outset. But the interior offers delightful detailing as well including:
- Cockpit seating minfigures in helmets
- Removable panels along the sides/head/body
- Space inside fits 40 additional minfigures
- Moving cannons and posable neck + walker legs
As a Lego builder and scale-model enthusiast, I appreciate the ingeniously engineered gear systems enabling such fluid leg and neck articulation. Button-activated triggers also allow the cannons to pack motorized punches!
Creating the Walker‘s towering stature required no shortcuts equating to over 6700 meticulously placed pieces. Having recently watched The Empire Strikes Back, I admired seeing the Collector‘s model accurately capture so many signature scenes.
It may convey fictional mechanized evil, but this is one beautiful $850 beast in brick form!
So why is buying this AT-AT army-builder such a towering investment?
For one, the lack of pre-existing Lego AT-ATs at this size forced designers to custom mold many new components driving production budgets up. Securing the Lucasfilm IP for such a quintessential Empire vehicle also proved pricey.
But its jaw dropping scale, moving parts, thematic ambiance, 9 bundled minifigures, and display factor resonate with collectors enough to justify the astronomical cost. LEGO completed a stunning triumph sure to oppress other sets as #2 most expensive ever!
