1. Wacky Wall Walker

It’s a toy shaped like an octopus, which when thrown against a wall “walks” its way down. 

Creator Ken Hakuta’s mother sent him several sticky octopus-like toys from Japan which were called ‘Tako’ then. They were meant for his children, but Hakuta found himself fascinated with the toy and began to market them himself. 

2. Yellow Smiley Faces

It’s just two black oval eyes and a full smile printed on a yellow circle. 

Harvey Ball created the design in ten minutes and was paid $45.Two brothers, Bernard and Murray Spain, stumbled upon the unrealized potential of the smiley and tagged it with the now infamous tag-line,”Have a nice day.”

3. Furby

Furbies are owl-like robot balls of fluff that speak in their own language. Thin like between cute and creepy, no?

These American robotic toys with a price tag of $45, took over the toy market back in 2000. Its main attraction was its ability to learn English and transcend over from Furbish (his mother tongue).

4. Big Mouth Billy Bass

‘The Singing Fish’ as they call it, is basically a fish on a board that sings and apparently bends.

This device was originally created by a Texas novelty toy company in the late 1990s. But this extremely annoying thing became a huge sensation as kids just adored it.

5. Tamagotchi

It’s an egg shaped chirping thingwhich behaves like a real pet.

This toy pet with virtual intelligence sold 70 million pieces. You are just required to use specific buttons to feed, clean and clean up its waste. As long as you’ll take care of your pet, it will grow. Shit, come to think of it, it’s pretty interesting. 

6. Beanie Babies

Beanie Babies are flexible toys which are stuffed with beans.

These were laughed at earlier but its maker made more than $4.5 billion from it. These toys were never sold in major stores and were not even advertised much, which made them really hard to get and hence highly desirable.

Billy Bob Teeth is a set of artificial teeth that make you look like some inbred hillbilly. 

They came out as a result of a partnership between a dental student and an ex-college football player, both in need of money. These and other related novelties such as Zombie Feet Sandals have sold more than 15 million units since 1994.

8. Plastic Wishbone

These are fake wishbones produced to give everybody, including vegetarians, a chance to make a wish. 

Heartbroken by the fact that only two people can make a wish at each Thanksgiving table, Ken Ahroni started LuckyBreak, a company that produces fake wishbones. The business now makes thousands of plastic bones a day and reports sales of over $2.5 million each year.

9. Snuggies

A Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves that keeps your hands free to move. 

Despite the fact that you can make your own sleeved blanket by wearing a bathrobe backwards, the Snuggie made an impressive $200 million in profit. Boosted by ridiculous commercials, everyone from celebrities to kids adored this.

10. Pet Rock

A Pet Rock is just a decorated rock with googly eyes which is sold as a pet. Oh come on!

Pet Rock is arguably the weirdest invention of all time to make millions of dollars. This product debuted in 1975 and in the first six months five million rocks were sold at $3.95 a piece.

11. Doggles

Doggles are goggles for dogs to protect their eyes from sun. Because, why not?

It’s not only animal lovers who have taken a fancy to it, but celebrities and the army too. The Doggle is letting them show how much they care for their dogs. If a dog really needed goggles to look out the window of a car, wouldn’t just about every dog in the world be blind by now?

12. Silly Bandz

Silly Bandz are rubber bands shaped like animals, objects, numbers and letters.

If you haven’t spent time in playgrounds recently, you may not have seen these weird bands but kids wear them as bracelets, collect and trade them. Some schools claim that they distract students and hence have banned Silly Bandz.

13. Koosh Ball

It’s a toy ball made of rubber strings attached to a soft rubber core. 

Looking for a ball that his kids could more easily catch, inventor Scott Stillinger tied a few rubber bands together into a sphere of strands surrounding a soft rubber core. A mere two years after its conception, the multicolored dandelion joined the ranks of Christmas 1988’s most fascinating toys.

14. Slinky

It’s a toy that can travel down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself.

This toy was discovered in 1943 by a naval engineer Richard James who unintentionally knocked over a spring while at work and watched as it “walked” its way down to the floor. When the Slinky made its debut, James sold 400 of the bouncy toys in 90 minutes.

15. Magic 8 Ball

It’s a black ball that can apparently tell your fortune.

Magic 8 Ball is a black sphere surrounding an alcohol – and dye – filled tube, containing a 20 sided dye printed with various answers. Who would have thought that this toy which gives you different answers every time you ask a question would go on to become this popular fortune teller?

So next time you have a crazy idea, do write it down. And then run towards the nearest patent office.