Pokemon is definitely an expensive hobby, especially once you start delving into lost media or the collectible card game department. Now, however, it appears a new expensive front for Pokemon hobbyists has opened and this time, it involves Cheetos shaped like Pokemon. The very first among them, a Charizard-shaped Cheetos or “Cheetozard” if you will, was even sold in a bidding war for nearly $88,000.
The incident took place at the Goldin auction house, which listed the special piece of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for auction back in late February. Cheetozard is a 3-inch-long Flamin’ Hot Cheeto (poetically enough), and it’s prominently shaped like Charizard from Pokemon. Cheetos didn’t intend for this shape to happen, of course– otherwise, it would’ve been a nightmare to deal with Nintendo.
On Sunday this month, the bidding began for Cheetozard, and the starting offer was rather manageable at $250. It appears Cheetozard was in demand, however, since the auction winner managed to close in at $72,000 after 60 bids, according to ABC News. However, Goldin has a Buyer’s Premium, an additional cost, putting Cheetozard at $87,840 or almost $88,000.
Goldin made the special Cheetos piece more special before initiating a bidding war for it, and they even placed the snack inside a clear storage box with an affixed Pokemon card on top of it. Despite the rather insane auction price and demand, however, Cheetozard almost never got sold.
Cheetozard Goes Way Back
Even though Cheetozard was auctioned recently, it was discovered sometime around 2018-2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles from Georgia. The Flamin’ Hot Cheetos piece was supposedly well-preserved (though likely not edible anymore, at least not without spicy consequences).
In fact, 1st & Goal Collectibles stored Cheetozard for a long time and forgot about it in their 2024 post.
“We’ve had the Cheetozard for about 5 years now and we totally forgot we had it until cleaning out the safe! Loads of offers have come in,” according to 1st & Goal Collectibles.
Others have suggested to encase Cheetozard in resin to preserve it forever, though it’s surprisingly managed to retain its form and remain free of mold for half a decade. Pokemon hobbyists have chimed in on social media, and people on Reddit reiterated something that they’ve known all too well: “The hobby is getting out of control.”
Funny enough, Cheetozard isn’t the first time a miracle came out of a Cheetos bag. Back in 2008, a Missouri woman stepped forth and claimed that she found “Jesus” in a bag of Cheetos, or more specifically, “Cheesus.” So, if you’re looking for a viable retirement plan, it might be better to keep watch for some of Cheetos’ most ambitious (and impromptu) brand crossovers.
