Pokemon fans come from all walks of life, but those pursuing the rarest and priciest cards might face tough competition. Simon Cowell, widely recognized as a former American Idol judge and the creative mind behind America`s Got Talent, was recently observed spending a significant amount – nearly $3,000 – on a single Pokemon card. He was even photographed with the person who sold him the card.
The seller, from Onfire Trading Cards, shared a picture with Cowell on Instagram, noting the encounter took place at the London Trading Card show. Cowell reportedly paid the equivalent of $2,700 for a Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art card that had received a top PSA 10 grade.
According to the seller, Cowell wasn`t just interested in the one high-value card; he was reportedly “picking up all sorts” of rare Pokemon cards during his visit to the show.
The resurgence in popularity and value of the Pokemon franchise has unfortunately attracted unwanted attention, with reports indicating the use of some Pokemon cards for money laundering. Separately, in May, a man in the UK was apprehended possessing over $300,000 worth of stolen Pokemon cards. Even unconventional items linked to the franchise have fetched remarkable prices, such as a Charizard-shaped Cheeto, nicknamed `Cheetozard`, which sold for $72,000 earlier this year.
Beyond the trading card market, the Pokemon Company recently revealed that its video games have collectively sold nearly 500 million units globally since their debut in 1996. In related news, Niantic, the developer behind the hit mobile game Pokemon Go, sold its games division to Saudi Arabian company Scopely for $3.5 billion. However, the team working on Pokemon Go has indicated that this change in ownership is not expected to significantly alter the game itself.
