The Charizad Cheeto: A $87,840 Snack and a Symptom of Pokémon Mania?
An extraordinary event has occurred within the often-unpredictable world of collectible memorabilia, leaving many observers scratching their heads and questioning the sanity of the market. Someone, somewhere, with a disposable income most can only dream of, just shelled out a staggering $87,840 for a single, strangely shaped Cheeto. Yes, you read that right. Not a rare baseball card, not a first edition comic book, but a cheese-flavored, puffed corn snack.
This particular Cheeto, now famously dubbed the "Cheetozard," owes its exorbitant value to its purported resemblance to the Pokémon character Charizard. Now, let’s be honest, the resemblance requires a significant degree of imaginative interpretation. You’d need to squint, tilt your head, and perhaps consume a few extra Cheetos for inspiration to truly see it. But hey, art is subjective, right? And apparently, so is the valuation of snack food.
The auction, hosted by Goldin, the well-known auction house specializing in sports memorabilia and collectibles, confirms the Cheeto’s viral journey. The listing details that this unique specimen was discovered and preserved by 1st & Goal Collectibles sometime between 2018 and 2022. It then experienced a surge in popularity on social media platforms in late 2024, likely fueled by the sheer absurdity of its existence and the debatable similarity to a beloved Pokémon.
The Cheetozard’s defining feature, according to the description, is its "flaming tail," an attribute made possible by its origin as a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. The use of the spicy variety is a crucial detail, as the bright orange hue provides a closer approximation to Charizard’s fiery color scheme than its milder, lighter-colored counterpart.
The lucky (or perhaps eccentric) buyer didn’t just receive the Cheeto itself. The purchase included a custom Pokémon card, presumably featuring the Cheetozard, adding another layer of collectibility to the already bizarre transaction. They also received a storage box, the purpose of which is presumably to preserve the Cheeto’s value, not to prevent the dreaded orange cheese-dust fingers that plague all Cheeto enthusiasts.
Consider the sheer economics of this purchase. At three inches long, this Cheeto commanded a price of over $29,000 per inch. That’s more expensive than many precious metals, and arguably, less useful. It begs the question: what does one do with an $87,840 Cheeto? Display it? Insure it? Use it as a conversation starter at exclusive cocktail parties?
The Goldin auction listing also notes the Cheeto’s previous appearances on memorabilia platforms like Arena Club and 1st and Goal Collectibles, indicating that its value had been gradually building momentum over time, fueled by social media buzz and the insatiable appetite of collectors.
But beyond the initial shock and amusement, the Cheetozard saga raises some more serious questions about the state of the collectibles market, particularly within the Pokémon universe. Is this a wise investment for the future? That depends on whether the buyer believes the Cheeto will appreciate in value. Of course, that depends on the rather pressing issue of shelf life. Is the lifespan of a single Cheeto on par with that of a Twinkie, a foodstuff practically synonymous with indefinite preservation? Or will this expensive snack eventually crumble into a pile of orange dust, leaving its owner with nothing but a custom Pokémon card and a storage box full of regrets?
More importantly, is this Cheeto auction a symptom of a larger problem? Is it yet another example of how the Pokémon secondhand market has spun wildly out of control, driven by hype, nostalgia, and the relentless pursuit of rare items?
Recent history certainly suggests a trend. Who can forget the Van Gogh Pokémon card debacle of fall 2023? The limited-edition collaboration between the Pokémon Company and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam resulted in chaotic scenes as collectors swarmed the museum, leading to aggressive behavior, theft, and widespread disappointment as scalpers snapped up the cards to resell them at inflated prices.
And then there’s the staggering value of ultra-rare Pokémon cards themselves. In 2021, Goldin sold a Pikachu Illustrator card for an eye-watering $1.2 million, cementing its status as one of the most valuable trading cards ever sold.
The Charizad Cheeto, in its own absurd way, represents the culmination of these trends. It’s not just a rare card; it’s a unique, one-of-a-kind item that taps into the nostalgia and collectibility surrounding Pokémon while also offering a healthy dose of internet meme-worthy absurdity.
It’s a testament to the power of branding, the allure of scarcity, and the willingness of some individuals to spend exorbitant amounts of money on things that most people would consider utterly frivolous. Whether the Cheetozard is a brilliant investment or a monument to market madness remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: it has sparked a conversation about the increasingly bizarre world of collectibles and the lengths to which some people will go to own a piece of that world.
