Cheeto or Charizard? The Snack That Sold for Nearly $88,000

The three-inch-long Flamin’ Hot Cheeto, shaped like the Pokémon Charizard, is affixed to a customized Pokémon card and encapsulated in a clear card storage box. It sold for $87,840 (with buyer’s premium) at Goldin in early March 2025.

Goldin

Would you believe a single Cheeto sold at auction for more than $80,000? What if it’s shaped like a rare Pokémon?

In the last few years, the market for Pokémon cards has grown exponentially as collectors returned to their childhood hobby and investors realized the potential of these collectibles. And it’s not just cards that demand attention (and value). On March 2, 2025, Goldin auction house sold a Cheeto—yes, the cheese-flavored puffed snack—shaped like the Pokémon Charizard for $87,840, including buyer’s premium.

The three-inch cheese curl, nicknamed “Cheetozard,” came mounted on a custom Pokémon card inside a clear case. Appropriately for the fiery character, it is a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. Even if you’re not a Pokémon collector, the resemblance to a flying dragon is visible. According to Goldin, it was discovered between 2018 and 2022 and preserved by 1st & Goal Collectibles, but it wasn’t until 2024 that it caught attention on social media. “Cheetozard” received 60 bids, with a starting price of $250.

Charizard is a favorite character among Pokémon fans, and its cards are some of the rarest and most desirable. The 1st Edition Charizard card from 1999 made Antique Trader’s list of Five Most Valuable Pokémon Cards in 2021. Valued at $300,000 with a PSA grade of GEM MT 10, it was “Arguably the hottest card in the entire hobby” for a time. However, the card sold at Goldin for $195,200 in 2024, suggesting enthusiasm may have cooled.

They may not reach the heights of rare Pokémon cards, but oddly shaped Cheetos are apparently a collectible category, albeit a niche one. In December 2024, an “extremely rare Loch Ness Monster Cheeto,” as the seller described it, sold for $150 on eBay. One shaped like a ray gun sold for $130.50.

If nothing else, this may be a lesson to watch what you eat—literally. Your next snack bag just might contain something worth a fortune to the right buyer.

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Tags: Collectible