Collectors usually search for rare items, ranging from vintage toys to limited edition trading cards. Recently, though, an unusual snack has been in the news. A Flamin’ Hot Cheeto in the shape of the popular Pokémon character Charizard, popularly called ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ sold for almost $88,000 ( ₹77 lakh approx.) at an online auction. The unusual chip was put on Goldin, a well-known online platform for collectibles, where it generated a buzz among collectors.
The Rise Of ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ To Stardom
The rare Cheeto, which is three inches long, was noticed due to its exact resemblance to Charizard. 1st and Goal Collectibles, an odd finds shop based in Georgia, found it between 2018 and 2022.
To preserve it in its odd shape, the Cheeto was glued onto a specifically created Pokémon card and placed in a clear display case. At the end of 2024, images of the ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ went viral on social media, further heightening its fame.
Goldin featured the ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ in their Pop Culture Elite Auction during February 2025 with a modest opening price of $250.
The heavy demand generated a bidding war and the sale was finished at the final sale price of $72,000 after 60 bids. The buyer paid a total of $87,840 including premiums.
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Internet Response And Pop Culture Impact
The ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ then became a viral hit on social media. People reacted with a combination of humor, shock, and disbelief at the sheer amount of money spent on a snack.
Netizens also contrasted it with other strange auctions, including the duct-taped banana painting that sold for millions. One user jokingly said’ “If I was on death row. I’d want this to be my final meal.”
This is not the first time a singularly shaped Cheeto has sold for a high price. In 2017, a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto that resembled the late gorilla Harambe was said to have sold for $99,900, although the purchaser eventually cancelled the sale.
These are examples of a niche market for food products that bear unsettling similarities to actual individuals or popular characters.
The ‘Pokemon Cheetozard’ is part of pop culture lore in a unique sense, with its extreme collector status proving just how far collectors will push it to acquire one-of-a-kind items. For those who were left out of this Pokémon snack, hope is not lost.
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With food collectibles on the rise, who knows what the next six-figure craze will be?
The next time you grab a bag of chips, look again—you could be holding a fortune in your hand.
Cover Image Courtesy: @goldinco/Instagram
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