Pokemon's $50 Million Man: Inside the Card Collection

Summary

The world's largest Pokemon card collection, estimated to be worth over $50 million, is owned by Gary, who has meticulously curated his collection for decades. He bought a first edition base Charizard for $700, now valued at $500,000, and his entire Charizard collection is listed for nearly $50 million. Gary's collection has reportedly outperformed traditional investments, with some of his most valuable cards being pristine first edition base set Charizards, including a Pristine 10. He estimates he's spent less than $1 million over 65 years on his collectibles, with the vast majority of his assets being Pokemon cards. Beyond Pokemon, his science fiction magazines from the 1920s are his next most valuable collection. Gary believes vintage Pokemon cards, particularly from the WOTC era, will continue to outperform modern sets long-term, with Charizards and Pikachus being consistently strong investments. He advises waiting until summer 2027 to buy, as current prices are considered overpriced, especially with the upcoming 30-year anniversary buzz. Gary also played a significant role in the early days of Pokemon card grading with PSA, helping to grade 76 of the 125 PSA 10 first edition base set Charizards. He expresses disappointment with PSA's current turnaround times and practices, favoring TAG for its transparency. He strongly advises against overspending on modern, overprinted sets. The darkest side of the market, he notes, is the increase in negativity, scalping, and store break-ins, which detracts from the hobby's positive aspects. Gary's collection is insured and stored across multiple secure locations, with his most valuable cards in a safe deposit box.