Fans of the game are going insane.
A unique case of Pokémon pareidolia has led to a significant windfall for one seller. A Flamin’ Hot Cheeto resembling the Pokémon Charizard was auctioned off for $87,840 on Sunday. Dubbed “Cheetozard,” this viral snack, which takes the shape of the fire-breathing creature, was sold through Goldin, an online auction platform known for trading cards and collectibles.
The snack, measuring three inches in length, was mounted on a custom Pokémon card and housed in a clear storage box. The auction for Cheetozard began on February 10, with an opening bid of $250. After 60 bids, the item was sold early Sunday morning for $72,000, with the final price boosted by an additional $15,840 due to Goldin’s 22% buyer’s premium.
While Goldin has not disclosed the buyer’s identity, the auction saw significant international interest, with people worldwide following the event, which lasted nearly a month. Dave Amerman, head of consignment at Goldin, noted that the sale of the Cheetozard represents a rare and one-of-a-kind collectible, combining the popular Pokémon and Cheetos fandoms in a fun way.
The sale sparked a flurry of online commentary, with many drawing comparisons to Maurizio Cattelan’s famous 2019 artwork “Comedian,” a banana duct-taped to a wall, which fetched $6.24 million at Sotheby’s. The Cheetozard’s viral rise came after it was rediscovered and preserved between 2018 and 2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles. Since then, it has made waves on social media, inspiring memes and even a cryptocurrency named after it.
While uniquely shaped Cheetos have become a niche market, with items shaped like Godzilla and Arnold Schwarzenegger fetching thousands on eBay, Cheetozard’s price might actually be a bargain compared to a similar Cheeto shaped like Harambe the gorilla, which sold for $99,900 in 2017.
