From 1998: Internet stock boom
Here’s how much you could have made by investing $1,000 in one of the many internet stocks like eBay or AOL back in 1998. Originally reported by Lisa Castleman on December 30, 1998.
LOS ANGELES – eBay may be turning 30, but its legacy is anything but standard. Founded in 1995, the platform revolutionized how we buy and sell—making it possible for anything to be listed, and sometimes purchased—for a price.
Some of its most memorable moments go beyond rare sneakers or collectibles. They include things that would make you double‑take. Whether it’s a half‑eaten slice of toast belonging to a pop star, an entire ghost town, or a nugget shaped like a video game character, eBay’s oddities show how the world’s weirdness can turn into commerce.
Why eBay turned the marketplace upside down
Big picture view:
eBay opened the door for anyone to sell anything—even when it’s absurd. That openness helped the site become a cultural touchstone and occasionally a source of controversy. It’s a place where imagination and commerce collide, sometimes in truly bizarre ways.
File: Chairman and founder Pierre Omidyar and CEO Meg Whitman of eBay.com, the online auction service, June 15, 1998. (James D. Wilson / Liaison Agency via Getty Images)
eBay was founded on September 3, 1995 as a simple auction site. Thirty years later, it has become a cornerstone of online commerce, enabling anyone to sell nearly anything.
Over the years, that freedom has led to some astonishing—and sometimes baffling—sales. From entire ghost towns to half-eaten celebrity food, eBay has seen listings that stretch the definition of value.
Looking back:
Here are some of the most remarkable items that found buyers on eBay.
Entire towns for sale
In the early 2000s, entire communities were listed for auction. Bridgeville, California, appeared multiple times, selling in 2002 for $1.77 million. Carlotta, California, and Thatch Cay in the U.S. Virgin Islands were also put up for sale, showing how eBay could turn even real estate into an online bidding war.
File: Auctioneers online in the office of alando.de AG, which offers so-called Consumer-to-Consumer auctions, on the 2nd of August in 1999 (Photo by Hubert Link/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Iconic landmarks and properties
Some listings were historic. In 2005, the original Hollywood Sign was sold for $450,400. Other properties, from islands to old buildings, have made appearances, underscoring how unusual eBay’s marketplace could be.
Celebrity food and drink
Pop culture has always had a strong presence on eBay. In 2000, Justin Timberlake’s half-eaten French toast sold for $1,025. A grilled cheese sandwich said to show the face of the Virgin Mary went for $28,000. Elvis Presley’s half-finished cup of water from a 1977 concert sold for $455.
This pretzel, supposedly shaped like the Virgin Mary, was listed on eBay in 2005 (FOX / file).
Everyday oddities
Not all sales involved celebrities. A flake of Nutri-Grain cereal resembling E.T. sold for A$1,035. More recently, a McDonald’s chicken nugget shaped like a character from the game “Among Us” sparked a bidding frenzy, closing at nearly $100,000 in 2021.
Scientific curiosities
Even science had its moment. A previously unknown aphid species preserved in Baltic amber was bought for £20 on eBay and later described by scientists as Mindarus harringtoni. Entire warships scuttled after World War I were sold through the site for a combined £85,000.
In 2001, a couple listed the naming rights for their child on eBay (FOX / file).
Digital and artistic experiments
eBay has also been home to strange pieces of digital culture. A drawing of a smiling seven-legged spider sold for $10,000. A GIF inspired by artist Jeff Koons sold for $202.50. These sales foreshadowed today’s NFT boom, where digital art has skyrocketed in value.
Collectibles and modern hype
Some listings reflect internet culture more directly. A limited-edition Labubu figurine from a Vans collaboration retailed at $85 but later sold for $10,500 on eBay. In 2024, a stapler that accidentally damaged a Nintendo Switch 2 console at a GameStop went viral, eventually selling for $250,000, with proceeds going to charity.
File An eBay auction is seen on a computer in a branch of iSold It, an eBay drop off store December 13, 2004 in Huntington, New York. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Crime and controversy
Not every listing has been lighthearted. Items tied to infamous cases—sometimes referred to as “murderabilia”—have appeared. In 2025, memorabilia linked to accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann surfaced online, including his Army jeep, which drew bids of more than $4,300.
The Source: This article draws on historical data and notable examples from reputable media and compiled records of unusual eBay listings, along with FOX archives.
