Pokemon as an investment. Is it the new asset class? What does the data say?
- Joey
- Nov 12
- 4 min read
Is Pokemon outperforming the S&P 500? If so is just a fad or is there long term value in investing in a card game?
What caused the upturn? Is it just an effect of the free money pandemic boon that dropped like a rock recently? Let take a look at the last 5 years of Pokemon and beyond and see it we can sort out the true value of an emerging asset class.
Lets take a look a graded cards:
The card listed above the 2006 Pokemon Charizard Gold Star ex exemplifies the combustable nature of the Pokemon market. The last 3 reported public sales are:
December 3, 2023 for $19,200 Fanatic Collect
September 2024 for $26,467 Ebay
The listing above for $58,723 Ebay
So one can say if you bought this in December 2023 you would see almost a 3x return on just this investment alone, In less that 3 years! So these are the types of returns that finance bros and meme stock pumpers are looking at.
Lets take a look at another graded card.
2006 Pokemon Gold Star ex Holon Phantoms #104 Pikachu Holo PSA 10
December 17, 2023 $7,200 Fanatics Collect
March 31, 2024 $8,100 Fanatics Collect
October 6 2024 $6,900 Fanatics Collect
April 6 2025 $14,600 Ebay
May 4 2025 $15,000 Fanatics Collect
June 1 2025 $19,400 Ebay
August 24 2025 $37,000 Ebay
Sale shown Below for $42,100 Ebay
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So it may look like I am cherry picking but these are the among the most recent large sales in the last 2 months. But they are emblematic of the Pokemon market. If you purchased this Pokemon Gold star ex Pikachu even in March last year (2024) you would have an investment that has increased 5x!
What makes Pokemon investment a great choice for people who are Pokemon novices is most of the most valuable are original Pokemon or usually the most popular. Very rarely is there gonna be a Honus Wagner situation where the a relatively unknown player has the most valuable card in the industry. The Pikachu's, Charizard's, Gengars, Mew's, etc will lead to potentially great investments.
What about sealed product?
While recent sealed product is more speculative than older Pokemon product. The top performing recent sealed sets are:
Evolving Skies (Sword & Shield):
The Current Gold Standard. Features multiple highly coveted Eeveelution and Dragon Alternate Arts (e.g., Umbreon VMAX Alt Art, Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art).
Exceptional Growth: Has seen the highest percentage return of any modern set, often trading for over $500-$1000+ per booster box after releasing around $90-$120.
Lost Origin (Sword & Shield):
Features a popular Giratina V Alt Art and a strong overall setlist.
Strong Growth: Currently one of the strongest performers from its era, showing consistent price increases after going out of print.
Brilliant Starts (Sword & Shield):
Features the Charizard V Alt Art, which drives high demand.
Strong Growth: Appreciated significantly after going out of print, similar to Lost Origin.
So is Pokemon a legitimate investment?
Pokemon is the largest intellectual property in human history. For example, take whatever IP you think has generated the most money. Then double it and that is still less than what Pokemon has generated, just since 2006!!
The reality is not even the Pokemon company knew what they had. In February of 1996 the Pokémon franchise begins with the release of the first video games, Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Green Version (known as Red and Blue internationally), for the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan.
Over the next two years the brand exploded with the introduction of the anime series and of course the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
What makes Pokémon's rise so complete is the domination of all medias throughout the years. Anime, Animated series in multiple languages, Trading card games, and video games. Which is by far the largest entertainment industry in the world. The video game industry is estimated to have generated between 184 to 200 Billion dollars in revenue annually. Which is 4 times what the music and movie industries generate COMBINED!
People are clamoring for analog investments i.e. Gold, Silver, etc. That includes Pokemon.
We have all seen the stories of 19 year old day traders making millions in an afternoon. Or of early bitcoin investors becoming billionaires. Who doesn't want to hit the lottery in some form or another. However throughout human history the most valuable assets are always tangible. Precious metals, jewels, goods, cattle, farmland, classic cars, etc.
Something primal in us equates value and worth in things you can stand on, hold in your hand or drive. Pokémon investing feeds that desire.
Pokemon's track record goes back decades.
If you ever visit a Pokémon card show, you'll may see a unlikely pairing. A biker in full leather gear negotiating a deal for card with a surfer or emo kid. That is the brilliance Pokémon. It translates over every language, country and culture. I hate to use cliches but people tend to ignore differences when it comes to Pokémon.
This is because of the wide range of medias that Pokemon is involved in. Maybe you didn't watch the anime, but every time you got home from school the animated series was on at your babysitters house. Or you didn't watch cartoons but played the Gameboy game when you should've been studying. Maybe you never played the TCG but you loved the Pokémon themselves, so you collected the cards. This is the completeness of the influence of this IP.
Pokémon's impact on pop culture in indelible and cemented in the hearts and minds of 10's of millions of people around the world. And because of it's appeal to children it's fanbase continually replenishes itself. It is no fad.
Jump the line and visit our store Poke Drip.
We make Pokemon EASY. If you are interested in Authentic sealed Pokémon boxes, packs and related gifts.
With over 25 different Pokemon packs, descriptions of each set, featured Pokemon, and pictures of each chase card. Cheers!
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