“Cheetozard”, Cheeto shaped like the Pokémon “Charizard”, sells for thousands at auction

Yes… you read that right. A diehard Pokémon fan has claimed a curious Guinness World Records title for the highest price paid for a videogame likeness corn snack after spending thousands of dollars on a single puff. 

Ken Goldin of Goldin Auctions

This bright red Flamin’ Hot Cheeto with a remarkable outline of the Pokemon “Charizard” was sold by Goldin Auctions last March to an anonymous buyer for a whopping $87,840 (£69,806 / €84,653), making it one of the most expensive foods of all time.

Featuring the fiery dragon’s distinct wings and tail, the 3 in (8 cm) long chip was mounted on a custom Pokemon card bearing the Cheetozard name, and was enclosed in a special translucent box just in case any viewers get a little too hungry. 

“Goldin specializes in rare and one-of-a-kind collectibles, and the Cheetozard is exactly this,” said Goldin Auctions Head of Consignment Dave Amermanat to Today. “Part of what makes this item so fun and unique is that it bridges two fandoms – Pokémon and Cheetos.”

And in fact, this was the second big auction for the house in recent weeks, as they recently broke the record for the most expensive Pokémon card sold at auction after selling a Pikachu card for over $16 million that was once owned by Logan Paul (USA). 

Cheetozard first went viral back in 2024, when the store 1st & Goal Collectibles posted a photo of their find, which they acquired and preserved sometime between 2018-2022. 

Reportedly, the owner Paul Bartlett found the Cheeto on eBay and purchased it for $350, so the Pokémon puff’s performance at auction brought in a pretty penny. 

Read more stories about record-breaking snacks in our dedicated Food and Drink section!

Nevertheless, this was not the first food to bring in some big money at auction.

In 2018, the Inner Mongolia Green State Fertilizer Co., Ltd. (China) became the record holder for the most expensive watermelon sold at auction after selling an 180.22 lb (81.75 kg) fruit for $7,489 (CNY 51,000; £5,827; €6,442).

And back in 2024, Regulatory Council DOP Cabrales (Spain) broke their third record for the most expensive cheese sold at auction after preparing a wheel of Cabrales blue cheese worth $42,232 (€36,000; £30,843). 

The cheese at auction

So next time you grab a snack off the shelf, maybe take a closer look… because the prices of these foods at auction might be able to pay for your groceries for the rest of your life!

Header image: Goldin Auctions