Rare Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Shaped Like Charizard Sells for $87,840

LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2025 – A peculiar snack has taken the collectibles market by storm, as a Flamin' Hot Cheeto resembling the beloved Pokémon Charizard sold for an astounding $87,840.

The unusual transaction reportedly took place among devoted collectors, with some experts questioning the buyer’s investment strategy. The three-inch-long Cheeto, dubbed the “Cheetozard,” may have received its high price tag thanks to its viral fame on social media platforms in late 2024.

“It was initially discovered and preserved sometime between 2018 and 2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles,” said a spokesperson for the memorabilia site, providing context for the snack’s rise to fame. The Cheetozard features a fiery tail and an orange hue, closely mirroring Charizard under the right lighting conditions.

The sale also included a custom Pokémon card featuring the Cheeto, along with a special storage box. According to sources, the box is intended to help maintain the snack’s value and keep it from losing its appeal — and avoiding mess from the notorious cheese dust associated with the popular snack.

With a selling price of over $29,000 per inch, the Cheetozard sale raises questions about the sustainability of collectibles in the Pokémon market. Discussions of shelf life also loom large, with concerns about whether a Cheeto can endure as an investment compared to items with longer-lasting potential, such as Twinkies, which are known for their extended shelf life.

This latest sale exemplifies how the Pokémon secondhand market has reached newfound heights. In recent years, collectors have witnessed an exciting yet volatile trend in collectible pricing, evidenced by previous sales of Pokémon memorabilia, including lucrative trading cards that have fetched prices upwards of $1.2 million.

As collectors and fans weigh the wisdom of investing in such unusual items, the excitement surrounding the Pokémon collectibles market continues to grow. Further developments are expected as trends shift and internet fame escalates values in unforeseen directions.