The world has officially lost its mind. A single Flamin’ Hot Cheeto, vaguely resembling Charizard from Pokémon, just sold for a jaw-dropping $88,000 at auction, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Yes, you read that right—someone forked over the price of a luxury car for a three-inch piece of spicy, processed cornmeal.
BREAKING NEWS
The Flaming Hot Cheeto “Cheetozard” sold last night for $87,840 via @GoldinCo [2].
The 3-inch Cheeto resembling Charizard received 60 bids and was reportedly bought on eBay originally for $350 a few years ago. That’s nearly a 24,997% increase…
What are… pic.twitter.com/TYkgOdaBCH [3]
— The Collectibles Guru (@ericwhiteback) March 2, 2025 [4]
Dubbed “Cheetozard,” this snack-shaped oddity was auctioned off on Goldin’s auction site, with the final bid reaching an eye-watering $72,000. Tack on the buyer’s premium, and the total skyrocketed to $87,840.
The lucky—or possibly unhinged—buyer remains anonymous, though one can only assume they fancy themselves a Pokémon master with deep pockets and questionable priorities.
There’s no way a custom card for Cheetozard was already made and it actually looks fire lmao Creative.Holo from IG is QUICK pic.twitter.com/0pF5nt17nu [5]
— SteeloAndKri (@SteeloAndKri) March 5, 2025 [6]
Charizard, one of the most recognizable characters from the long-running Pokémon franchise, has been a fan favorite since the series’ debut.
Naturally, anything resembling the fire-breathing dragon is bound to attract attention, but even die-hard collectors must be shaking their heads at this one.
According to Goldin, “Cheetozard” was first discovered by 1st & Goal Collectibles sometime between 2018 and 2022. It gained traction online last year after people noticed its resemblance to the iconic Pokémon.
Have no fear, CHEETOZARD is here!
This “Cheetozard” – Pokemon Charizard-Shaped Cheeto – 3″ is available now in our February Pop Culture Elite Auction: https://t.co/wdKYGJAaPk [7]
This is a 3-inch long Flamin’ Hot Cheeto in the shape of the Pokémon Charizard! … pic.twitter.com/1qPXrqbD0S [8]
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) February 24, 2025 [9]
The snack’s fame led memorabilia platform Arena Club to acquire it in November 2024, where it was promoted as the “rarest Charizard in the world.” Because apparently, we’ve reached the point where junk food is considered high-end memorabilia.
Of course, this isn’t the first time a ridiculous snack sale has made headlines. Back in 2017, a regular-flavored Cheeto shaped like Harambe, the gorilla that became an internet sensation, sold on eBay for nearly $100,000. If that wasn’t a sign of the times, this certainly is.
For now, “Cheetozard” is preserved inside a clear storage box, attached to a custom Pokémon card, because heaven forbid it crumbles into dust before its owner gets to bask in their bizarre investment.
WILD! Cheeto shaped like the Pokemon Charizard sells for $87,840 at auction.
The 3-inch “Cheetozard” sold on Goldin’s auction website to an anonymous buyer.
According to Goldin, the Charizard Cheeto was discovered years ago. pic.twitter.com/0ZL9BTzsKI [10]
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 4, 2025 [11]
The starting bid was a modest $275 when the auction opened on February 11, but thanks to a whirlwind of attention and collector hysteria, the final price soared to absurd levels.
While some may see this as a quirky piece of pop culture history, others can’t help but wonder how society got to the point where people drop nearly six figures on a snack that will never be eaten.