Pokemon enthusiasts span all demographics, but acquiring the most sought-after and costly cards can be highly competitive. Simon Cowell, known as a former American Idol judge and the creative mind behind America`s Got Talent, was recently seen spending close to $3,000 on a single Pokemon card. He even took a photo opportunity with the vendor.
The individual running Onfire Trading Cards posted a picture with Cowell on Instagram (as reported by IGN), mentioning the photo was taken at the London Trading Card show. Reports indicate Cowell spent the equivalent of $2,700 for a Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art card, which had received a PSA 10 grade.
The seller also observed Cowell acquiring various other rare Pokemon cards during his visit to the event.
With the recent boom in the Pokemon franchise`s popularity, there have been instances of organized crime utilizing certain Pokemon cards for money laundering. For example, in May, a man in the UK was apprehended with stolen Pokemon cards valued at over $300,000. The high value isn`t limited to official cards; even unofficial items like a Cheeto resembling Charizard, nicknamed “Cheetozard,” reportedly fetched $72,000 this year.
The Pokemon Company recently announced that its Pokemon video games have sold nearly 500 million copies since the franchise began in 1996. Separately, Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go, sold its gaming division to the Saudi Arabian firm Scopely for $3.5 billion. However, the developers of Pokemon Go have stated that significant changes to the game are not expected under the new ownership.