Man Bets on Ram Man: 15-Year Toy Investment

Fifteen years ago, Jamie Moakes embarked on an unusual venture to establish the 1980s action figure Ram Man as a valuable item. Inspired by the 'cash for gold' trend, Moakes began mass-purchasing the minor He-Man character, aiming to create rarity and thus value.

Moakes, who lives in Greenwich, south-east London, has spent thousands of pounds since 2011 acquiring almost 300 Ram Man figures, with prices ranging from 20p to £800. He even performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, auctioning figures to let the audience determine their worth.

He consulted with Professor Eric Smith from the University of Essex, who found the experiment clever but advised Moakes against spending too much. Moakes believes Ram Man could have achieved the status of Bitcoin if circumstances were different, likening his ambition to creating a meme coin. He has learned that changing perceived value is achievable, but profiting from it is a separate challenge.

Despite an estimated two million Ram Man figures being produced by Mattel, Moakes remains committed to his goal. He hopes the upcoming He-Man film will increase interest in Ram Man, potentially driving up the value of his extensive collection. Professor Smith expressed admiration for Moakes's persistent, quixotic adventure and wished him well.