Pokémon Cards Hit Hollywood

Pokémon cards transcended national and cultural borders to capture the heart of a generation, and now, they continue to occupy a central place in popular culture around the world. Celebrities and figures from UFC champion Rhonda Rousey to pop star Ariana Grande proclaim their love for the franchise and the cards, and many of these cultural trendsetters have famously started collections of their own.

In 2020, Rapper Logic made headlines by paying over $220,000 to add an iconic Charizard card to his collection, while musicians like Justin Bieber, Steve Aoki, and BTS’s RM have become known for their own impressive collections.

As the cultural cache of these cards grows, the top cards can become more than just works of art, tokens of nostalgia, or collector’s items. Like fancy cars or expensive jewelry, these cards are becoming status symbols as well. When Youtuber Logan Paul stepped into the ring to fight boxer Floyd Mayweather, he was sporting not just diamonds and gold, but the crown jewel of his card collection, a first-edition Charizard, on a chain around his neck. The next year, he upped the ante, wearing the most valuable Pokémon card in the world, a gem mint condition Pikachu Illustrator card.

These celebrity purchases have made the cards more popular than ever, and with countless games, merchandise, TV shows, and theme parks being constantly added to the world, Pokémon’s cultural influence shows no signs of slowing down. For both collectors and investors, Pokémon cards represent a fun and productive opportunity.