10 Vintage Zippo Lighters That Sold for Unbelievable Amounts

A collection of various Zippo lighters is displayed. Each lighter features unique designs, including logos, symbols, and artwork in different colors and finishes, arranged in a grid.

Zippo lighters are iconic. The durable, refillable lighters debuted in 1933 and have transcended generations. While new versions still aren’t as cheap as your average plastic Bic lighter, some models are particularly pricey. From lighters that were involved in historic events to Zippos made of solid gold, these are the vintage Zippo lighters that have sold for the most insane amounts of money.

1. Neil Armstrong’s Personally Engraved Zippo Lighter

An astronaut in a spacesuit with an American flag patch smiles while sitting indoors. Equipment surrounds them, and there is a blue device attached to the suit.
Bettmann / Getty
Bettmann / Getty

Sold for: $5,875

Neil Armstrong’s unused, pristine Zippo lighter sold for almost $6,000 in its original box. The lighter is engraved to commemorate his connection to the Gemini program, and it was given to him as a gift by the program managers during a farewell celebration. The 1966 Zippo is somewhat of a relic tied to the famous astronaut’s legendary exploration.

2. Barney Ross’ Skull Lighter from ‘The Expendables 2’

An intricately designed lighter featuring a raised metal skull surrounded by an array of detailed gun motifs and geometric patterns. The texture is rugged and metallic, emphasizing a gothic and edgy aesthetic.
r/zippo / Reddit
r/zippo / Reddit

Sold for: $5,625

You might have spotted this rigid Zippo during the “Expendables” movies. It’s intricate design includes a skull in the middle, surrounded by assault rifles and knives for a hand-carved metal look. It’s, dare we say, bad to the bone.

3. Paul Tibbets’ Zippo Lighter Flown on the Enola Gay

A person in a military uniform stands in front of a large aircraft with the name "Enola Gay" painted on its side. The setting appears to be an airfield under clear skies.
Bettmann / Getty
Bettmann / Getty

Sold for: $4,750

This Zippo’s high selling price was inspired by its owner and the history surrounding it. That is to say, this was pilot Paul Tibbets’ personal lighter, which was in his pocket during his historic 1945 mission when he dropped an atomic bomb over Hiroshima from his B-29 bomber, Enola Gay. The lighter was sold with a letter reading, ‘To Whom It May Concern: The enclosed black Zippo lighter, which was given to me by George Caron, my tail gunner, was carried by me when we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima (never used much). Regards Paul W. Tibbets.”

4. John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Gift Lighter

A man in a suit and a woman in a sleeveless dress stand arm-in-arm beside a large, decorated Christmas tree indoors. The tree is adorned with ornaments and lights. The setting appears to be formal, with other people in the background.
Bettmann / Getty
Bettmann / Getty

Sold for: $4,481

During his first year in office, President John F. Kennedy gifted around 40 of his closest friends and advisors with chrome Zippo lighters, engraved with his initials and the presidential seal. Since these lighters were so exclusive, any that remain sell for thousands.

5. 1934 Zippo With Exposed Hinge and Diagonal Design

A silver, rectangular metal lighter with a hinged lid, slightly worn with some surface scratches, sits on a plain light background. The lighter has a simple, minimalist design with a small lever on the side.
sky-dragon-tiger / eBay
sky-dragon-tiger / eBay

Sold for: $875

Made in 1934, the Zippo lighters with the diagonal designs in the top and bottom corners — and the exposed hinge — are both rare and valuable because of their standout design.

6. John Wayne’s Personal Lighter

A person wearing a cowboy hat and a dark shirt with suspenders holds a rifle, gazing off to the side against a plain background.
Bettmann / Getty
Bettmann / Getty

Sold for: $3,734

Unlike some of the other Zippos owned by big names in this round-up, John Wayne’s Zippo got plenty of use. Made out of sterling silver and engraved with “Duke,” this lighter gives off that iconic cowboy swagger only Wayne himself could conjure.

7. Buddy Holly’s Lighter

A silver metal lighter stands upright on a light surface, set against a neutral background. Its shiny surface reflects the light, emphasizing its simple design.
haywoodcreektures / ebay
haywoodcreektures / ebay

Sold for: $777

Buddy Holly’s lighter was simple by design with a sleek, stainless steel construction. If it belonged to Joe Shmoe down the road, we’re sure it probably wouldn’t have sold for upwards of $700. You certainly couldn’t pick this guy out of a Zippo lineup since it isn’t engraved like some of the other celebrity-owned lighters we’ve found.

8. 18K Commemorative Zippo Lighter

A brass lighter inside an open wooden box with black velvet lining. The box also contains matches and a small, folded piece of paper. The box is placed on a dark speckled surface.
vitastouch / eBay
vitastouch / eBay

Sold for: $2,600

As part of a special, commemorative collection, this Zippo is one of the fancier ones we found. Along with its flashy gold composition, the lighter comes with a lavish cherry gift box and a certificate. It’s engraved on both sides; the engraving on the back indicates the model number out of the 300 made.

9. 1960 Tiffany& Co. 14K Yellow Gold Lighter

A gold rectangular lighter with a textured surface and sleek design, positioned upright on a plain white background.
TREASURE FINE JEWELRY MIAMI / ebay
TREASURE FINE JEWELRY MIAMI / ebay

Sold for: $3,000

You know the drill: Anything Tiffany & Co. gets its hands on (have you seen its engagement ring snow globe?) is going to be worth the price of gold … literally, in this case. The 14K gold Tiffany lighter was made in 1960 and is the ultimate status symbol, especially with its unique design of diagonal lines.

10. 18K Buccellati Zippo Lighter

A historic stone building with three large arched windows displaying "Buccellati." The facade features ornate details, two lamps, and people walking in front. The "Lorenz Baumer" name appears on the higher-level windows.
Moonik / Wikipedia
Moonik / Wikipedia

Sold for: $2,750

Like Tiffany & Co., Buccelati had to dip their toes into the world of gold Zippo lighters with an 18K version. This gold lighter also had a unique appearance with a brushed cross hatching blanketing it.

Author
Rachel Schneider

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and English. Throughout her career, she has dabbled in a variety of subject matter from finance and higher education to lifestyle pieces and food writing. She also enjoys writing stories based on social media trends. Find her on Instagram @rachel.schneider922