Gen Z and millennials agree: They’re right Pokémon Probably never relax.
Although the Japanese franchise is approaching its 30th anniversary, young people in particular continue to perform a lifelong mission “catch everyone” and are spending millions, sometimes millions of dollars, collecting transaction cards.
Part of “boy math” is that investing cards can produce considerable returns, which may be some fact.
Pokémon cards have the biggest growth in long-term value among all card categories: up 3,261% in 20 years, according to data provided wealth from Ladder. Even if you consider a year of investment, the average Pokémon card has increased by nearly 46%, which is a much faster rate than Hot stocks like Nvidia So far, the average annual rate of return for the S&P 500 may be 12%.
While cards have to be rare and in their original state to make substantial profits, the industry has frantically left retailers’ shelves Walmart and Target Nude – even leads to some stores setting restrictions or Sales suspension common. Online, it takes the resale market to new heights.
User opens ebay According to Adam Ireland, vice president and GM of Global Collections, an hourly search for “Pokemon” in 2024 ebay. Pairing Pokémania with the ongoing demands of the sports card industry (thanks to athletes like Caitlin Clark and Michael Jordan) creates the perfect storm of opportunity for the trading card industry. The total value of cards on eBay has increased for nine consecutive quarters.
“The new era, driven by a huge balance of technology, innovation, community, and modern creativity, the hobbies of trade cards have entered a new era – related to new suits, storylines and characters – and good old nostalgia,” Ireland told Ireland. wealth.
Social media is driving a trading card boom, as well as some bad financial decisions
Except Logan Paul, no other influencer may particularly ignite the ongoing interest in Pokémon Cas. YouTuber, he also engages in professional wrestling, boxing and Entrepreneurshiphas spent millions of dollars on buying cards and then generated millions of views from his content.
“Nostalgia + Business = Art Nouveau” Write After social media Spend $200,000 on the card.
“These things are like crazy, like collectibles getting very low supply, high demand for artwork.”
Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
Logan Paul wore the Charizard Pokemon card chain and entered the ring for the 2021 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
In 2022, he Bankruptcy Guinness World Record, the most expensive Pokémon trade card is available for $525,000 in private sale for PSA Level 10 (essentially perfect condition) Pikachu Illustrator card for $5.275,000.
“This card cost my 84 acres of ranch,” Paul said at the time.
Other social platforms, including Tiktok, are filled with content creators who devote themselves to buying, opening and reselling cards.
But for some, the joy of collecting or profiting doesn’t work as planned, a recent call Dave Ramsey Personal Finance VODCAST shows how bad this obsession has become for some young people.
“I screwed up big. The caller said.
“What did you put $260 million in stock up?” Rami asked.
“Pokemon Cards – Trying to buy a bunch and sell it online, but it didn’t fix it.”
Like other collectibles, transaction cards can be considered “commodities” or even works of art. Jason HowardsSenior Vice President of Marketing and Athletic Relations at Sports Card Company Panini America. However, whether you think that real investment opportunities are largely dependent on your intentions.
“For some people, they (collect) because they see it as an investment. Others do it for pure fun,” he said.
Overall, most collectors are not so in-depth and financially irresponsible, but rather regard hobbies as guilty pleasures. include Ryan Hogethe PSA president is one of the largest companies to evaluate the status and authenticity of transaction cards. He said he personally owns tens of thousands of cards, but like many people, he likes to collect them even if they are stored in a closet.
Hogg told wealth. And, not only can you hold something, but you can also interact with a like-minded person of someone with similar interests. ”
Last month, nearly 125,000 fans attended the second annual conference of Fanatics (owned trading card company Topps) that centered around everything about sports and collectibles. The event was especially influential and former gymnast Livvy Dunne Purchase a card Her professional baseball player boyfriend costs $2,850. this National Sports Collectors ConferenceThis will also bring more than 100,000 followers, which will be outside Chicago later this summer.
A billion dollar market based on nostalgia
Although the transaction card industry was on the verge of extinction after overproduction in the 1990s, it has recovered and flourished. According to Sports Cards, it generates $1 billion in annual revenue for manufacturers and retailers. sports. Pokémon alone brought similar numbers, the only toy toy that sold over $1 billion last year. carriage data.
Although Barry Sams, vice president of game development and community engagement at Pokémon Company International, said that even though more than 75 billion Pokémon cards have been produced (enough to wrap the earth end to end 165 times), demand is still high.
“As demand explodes, we will print with the greatest capacity to provide fans with the largest cards while ensuring we maintain quality standards,” he told him. wealth.
“Those who grew up with Pokémon now have their own kids to share that passion with them, and often means revisiting old Pokémon card collections and recreating childhood memories as parents.”
Opportunities in the card industry are leading retailers like retailers GameStop Pay more attention. Electronic store in First quarter of 2025collectibles such as Pokémon and Sports Cards account for 29% of the company’s sales – selling video game software.
“We focus on trading cards as a natural expansion of our existing business,” Ryan Cohen, CEO of GameStop He said at the company’s annual general meeting last month. “Whether it’s sports, Pokémon or collectibles, the transaction card market is aligned with our heritage. It fits our trade and model. It attracts our core customer base. It’s deeply embedded in physical retail.”
The industry continues to be fascinated by even world leaders. On this year’s Easter Egg Roll, the South Lawn of the White House, President Donald Trump is You can see the tiered transaction card This describes the assassination attempt against him last year.
In a recent meeting with a young student Pope Leo 14 It’s not avoiding the crazy transaction card, but Happy to sign onepopplio”Pokemon card.
“It doesn’t matter your age, and when you get a bag of cards in your hand, the first thing you want to do is tear it apart, hoping you get that hot rookie or you’ll get a player from the team you like,” said Howarth of Panini. “If these things happen, you’re ecstatic.”
