A Viral Pokémon-shaped Cheeto Sells at Auction for Nearly $88K
A Pokémon Pareidolia Proves Profitable for One Seller
On March 2, a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto shaped like the Pokémon Charizard, nicknamed “Cheetozard,” sold at auction for $87,840. The unique snack was sold through Goldin, an online auction house specializing in trading cards, collectibles, and other memorabilia.
The Unique Item
Cheetozard is a three-inch long Flamin’ Hot snack mounted to a custom Pokémon card encapsulated in a clear card storage box. The item was initially discovered and preserved between 2018 and 2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles.
The Auction Process
Bidding for the item started at $250 on February 10 at 8:10 PM, and 60 bids later, the winning bid of $72,000 was made on March 2 at 1:42 AM, according to Goldin. The extra $15,840 on the final price is the auction house’s 22% “buyer’s premium” fee.
Global Interest
Goldin declined to share who purchased the pricy Cheeto but says that people from all over the world visited its website to watch the auction, which ran for nearly a month. “Goldin specializes in rare and one-of-a-kind collectibles, and the Cheetozard is exactly this,” said Dave Amerman, Goldin’s head of consignment. “Part of what makes this item so fun and unique is that it bridges two fandoms — Pokémon and Cheetos.”
Online Reaction
As expected, the sale has led to plenty of online commentary. “This sums up 2025,” commented one person. “If I was on death row, I’d want this to be my final meal,” said another. “Good thing I didn’t pull it because I would have eaten it in seconds,” another joked.
Many commenters brought up “Comedian,” Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s 2019 artwork that consists of a single banana duct-taped to a wall, which sold at Sotheby’s for $6.24 million in 2024. “I got an onion shaped like Bulbasaur back taking offers,” wrote someone else. (Bulbasaur is shaped like an onion — this is a solid joke.)
Conclusion
The sale of Cheetozard is a testament to the power of unique and rare collectibles. As the world continues to evolve, it’s clear that even the most unexpected items can command a high price.
FAQs
* Who purchased the Cheeto? Goldin declined to share the information.
* How long did the auction run? The auction ran for nearly a month.
* What is the total price paid for the Cheeto? $87,840, including the 22% buyer’s premium fee.
* What is the current market for uniquely-shaped Cheetos? Snacks shaped like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Godzilla, and the Nike swoosh are currently being auctioned on eBay for thousands of dollars.
* How does this sale compare to other notable sales? In 2017, a Cheeto apparently shaped like Harambe the Gorilla sold on eBay for $99,900.
