It initially seemed like just another bargain from Goodwill.
But after one woman picked up a $5 Halloween mask at the thrift store, she later discovered it was actually worth hundreds of dollars.
Mom Brittany Carey, from California, was looking for a Halloween costume for her daughter at a local Goodwill when she noticed a Ghost Face mask from the Scream movies on the shelf.
On first glance it didn’t look like much, as it was dirty and worn out, so she put it back and continued on her hunt.
But she had coincidentally just seen a video about how rare and vintage Ghost Face masks could be worth a lot, so she went back to take another look at it before leaving the store.
‘I noticed it on the shelf, picked it up and put it back, as I wasn’t sure if it was what I thought it could be. It was dirty, had several holes and was smushed to look as if it was sitting under a heavy box for many months,’ she recalled during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.
‘[But] it weighed on my mind as I strolled through the aisles, and returned 15 minutes later to take another look at it.’
Upon looking closer at the mask, she saw the words ‘Fun World Div’ stamped underneath the chin, which she had previously learned from the video is a tell-tale sign that it could be worth something.
‘That was when I knew it was something special. I purchased it for $4.99, and turned to the internet for further research,’ she continued.
Mom Brittany Carey, from California, was looking for a Halloween costume for her daughter at a local Goodwill when she noticed a Ghost Face mask from the Scream movies on the shelf
On first glance it didn’t look like much – it was dirty and worn out – but she later discovered it was actually worth hundreds of dollars
The original Ghost Face mask was made by Fun World in 1991 – five years before Scream came out – and was originally called the Peanut Eyed Ghost mask.
It’s been said that the mask caught the eye of Scream creator Wes Craven while he was scouting for filming locations and saw it in a collector’s home.
He then contacted Fun World and got permission to use it in the film, and flash forward to now, it’s become one of the most recognizable symbols in horror cinema.
And while it’s been recreated millions of times for Halloween costumes over the years, the original Fun World masks are extremely rare.
‘I couldn’t believe that I had found one of these vintage masks,’ the mom-of-one reflected.
Carey decided to list hers on eBay, and while she was confident she’d make a pretty penny on it, she never expected it to sell for as high as it did.
She started bidding at only 99 cents, but immediately, a bidding war erupted, and within 30 minutes the price had gone up to over $400.
It ultimately sold for a whopping $856 including taxes and shipping. And, after the eBay fees, she earned $672 from it.
Upon looking closer at the mask, she saw the words ‘Fun World Div’ stamped under the chin
The original Ghost Face mask was made by Fun World in 1991 – five years before Scream came out – and Fun World masks are now extremely rare. A still from Scream is seen
Carey bought it for $5 and decided to list it on eBay, where it ultimately sold for a whopping $856 including taxes and shipping; after the eBay fees, she earned $672 from it
‘It brought me immense joy to know that I was able to bring this mask to someone who valued it,’ Carey told the Daily Mail
‘I was in disbelief watching bidding unfold, refreshing the screen to see that the bid had increased,’ she said.
‘It brought me immense joy to know that I was able to bring this mask to someone who valued it.’
Carey said she used the money to pay for diapers for her daughter, groceries and medical bills, adding that she’s ‘incredibly grateful’ she came across the mask in Goodwill that day and didn’t leave it behind.
She shared her story on TikTok where it went viral, gaining more than two million views.
Many people flooded the comment section sharing their disbelief over her find, as well as posting supportive messages.
‘Slay queen, 10/10 find and you did it so respectfully,’ praised one user.
‘That’s amazing,’ another added, while someone else wrote, ‘I am so happy for you.’
‘I am overwhelmed by the large online reaction… [and] I greatly appreciate the positive feedback,’ gushed Carey.
