Gen Z men are still obsessed with Pokémon cards—using ‘boy math’ to argue that they’ll beat Nvidia stock and the S&P 500. But there’s a catch

Although the Japanese concession, which is close to the anniversary of 30 years, young people in particular are still on the mission of life to “arrest everyone”-and they spent hundreds, sometimes even millions of dollars, and raised trading cards.

Part of “boy’s mathematics” is that investing in cards can result in great returns, and there may be some truth in the matter.

Pokémon cards have seen the largest long -term increase in value among all cards categories: an increase of 3,261 % over the course of 20 years, according to the data provided to luck from Card ladder. Even given a single year investment, the average Pokemon card increases by approximately 46 %-a pace that exceeds hot stocks such as NVIDIA so far in 2025 or the average annual rate of return 12 % of the S&P 500.

Although the cards should be rare and in a rudimentary state to achieve a great profit, the crazy industry has left retailers shelves such as Walmart and Target Bare – and even caused some stores at a limits or Temporary completely. On the Internet, it is pushing the resale market to new horizons.

Users searched for EBY for “Pokemon” approximately 14,000 times per hour in 2024, according to Adam Ireland, Vice President and GM of global holdings in EBY. Pokémania pair with continued demand in the world of sports cards (thanks to athletes such as Caitlin Clark and Michael Jordan), it has created an ideal storm of opportunities to make trading cards. The total total value of the cards on EBAY increased for nine quarters.

“The hobby of the trading card entered a new era, driven by technology, innovation and society and a great balance in modern creativity – with new collections, stories and characters – along with good old nostalgia,” luck.

Social media leads the madness of a trading card – and some bad financial decisions

Perhaps no other influence has pushed a constant interest in Pokemon cards in particular from Logan Paul. YouTube, who is also famous for its projects in professional wrestling, boxing and entrepreneurship, has spent millions of dollars in purchase cards – and then benefited from millions of views that were created from its content.

“Nostalgia + Business = New Art,” is books On social media yet Spending $ 200,000 on cards.

“These things are like crazy because holdings have become very low, and highly demanded art.”

Logan Paul wears a chain of Charzard Pokemon Cards while entering the ring for the 2021 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.

In 2022, it is break A record in Guinness International for the most expensive Pokemon trading card that is sold in a special sale with the purchase of the Pikachu photographer Pikachu 10 degree (mainly perfect case) for $ 5.275 million.

Paul said at the time: “This card cost me more than my farm. A 84 -acre farm.”

Other social platforms, including Tiktok, are full of content creators who have devoted their lives to buy, open and resell cards.

But for some, the joy of collecting or achieving a profit does not succeed as planned, with a recent invitation to the personal Dave Ramsey that explains the bad mania of some young people.

“I spoiled great. I went behind the back of my pregnant wife and got 26,000 dollars from credit card debts in four months,” The caller said.

“What did you raise 26 thousand dollars?” Rami asked.

“Pokemon Cards – You are trying to buy a handful and sell it online, but they haven’t succeeded.”

Like other holdings, trading cards can be considered “commodity” and even art, according to Jason HurathSVP of marketing and sports relationships in Panini America, Sports Cards Company. But if you consider it a real investment opportunity that depends largely on your intentions.

“For some people, they (collect) because they consider it an investment. Others do so for pure pleasure.”

On the whole, most university schools do not come out of the deep end and they are excessively responsible, and instead see the hobby as a guilty pleasure. This includes Ryan HujPSA president, one of the largest companies that hold the status and originality of trading cards. He said he personally has tens of thousands of cards, but like many, he enjoys its collection, even if it is stored in a wardrobe.

“I sometimes think that people want to separate from digital, and this is a good outlet for that,” says Hoog. luck. And not only to get something in your hand, but you can also interact with a society of people with similar thinking who have similar interests. ”

Last month, approximately 125,000 fans of fanatics (whose Topps Card Card Company) attended the second annual conference that focuses on all mathematical things and holdings. The event witnessed significantly influential and a previous gymnast Buy a card From her professional boyfriend, the baseball player for $ 2,850. the National Sports University ConventionAnd, which also brings more than 100,000 fans, was appointed later this summer outside Chicago.

A billion dollar market is based on nostalgia for the past

While the trading cards industry was about to extinction after excessive production in the 1990s, they have since been recovered and flourished. Sports cards bring annual revenues of one billion dollars to manufacturers and retail dealers, according to Athlete. Pokemon alone brought a similar number, and it was the only game that exceeds one billion dollars in sales last year, he says Circana Data.

Although more than 75 billion Pokemon cards were produced (which is enough to wrap around the Earth to 15 times), SkyHight is still, according to Bari Samz, Vice President of Games and Community Participation at Bokimon International.

“With the explosion in the demand, we print the maximum ability to provide the largest number of possible cards to the masses for current expansion while ensuring that quality standards are maintained,” he says, he says, he says, he says, he says, he says, he says luck.

“Those who grew up with Pokemon now have children with the participation of this passion, and often, this means reconsidering the old Pokemon cards groups and re -creating dear childhood memories as a parent.”

The opportunity within the cards industry causes retailers like Gamestop to pay more attention. The electronics store said in The first quarter of 2025CDs, such as Pokémon and Sports Cards, are 29 % of the company’s sales – video game programs.

“We are focusing on trading cards as a natural extension of our current business,” said Ryan Cohen, CEO of Gamestop at the company’s annual shareholder meeting last month. “The trading cards market, whether it is sports, Pokemon or holdings, is in line with our heritage. It suits our trade and our model. It appeals to our basic customer base. It is deeply included in the sale of material retail.”

The industry continues in the magic of even world leaders. During this year’s Easter eggs in the southern grass of the White House, President Donald Trump was See with a gradual trading card That depicts the assassination attempt last year.

In a recent meeting with a young student, Pope Liu was not ashamed of the madness of the trading card and was More than happy to sign A “PoplioPokemon Card.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, or when you get a set of cards in your hand, the first thing you want to do is to open it open and hope that you will get this hot rising, or you will get a player from your favorite team.” “If any of these things happens, you are active.”