Unusual snack food discoveries have always caught the public’s eye, but few have ever commanded the kind of price tag attached to a recently sold Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. Shaped uncannily like Charizard, the beloved fire-breathing Pokémon, this oddly formed chip has found itself at the center of an intense bidding war. When the dust settled, the final price for the so-called “Cheetozard” reached an astonishing $87,840.
Finding snack foods that resemble famous characters is nothing new. Over the years, everything from toast patterns to oddly shaped potato chips has captured the fascination of collectors and curious onlookers alike. But in this case, the sheer passion of Pokémon fans combined with the rarity of the find turned a simple piece of junk food into a six-figure collectible.
The uniquely shaped Cheeto, measuring approximately three inches in length, was discovered sometime between 2018 and 2022. Unlike other novelty food items that often get eaten, crushed, or forgotten, this one was immediately recognized as something special. A sports memorabilia company took it upon themselves to preserve the snack, ensuring it would be stored safely for potential buyers.
Once word spread online, interest in the Cheeto skyrocketed. Pokémon enthusiasts, novelty collectors, and wealthy fans of the franchise were all drawn to the item. The starting bid was set at a modest $250, but in no time, that number shot up dramatically. It didn’t take long for the price to jump into the five-figure range, and eventually, a final bid of $72,000 secured the rare snack. With additional buyer’s fees totaling $15,840, the final amount reached nearly $88,000.
The new owner won’t be snacking on their prize anytime soon. The Cheeto now rests in a protective plastic display, resembling the packaging of a valuable Pokémon card. This airtight container ensures that no outside elements will compromise the Cheeto’s structural integrity—or what’s left of it. As time passes, however, one can only speculate whether the snack will slowly break down or remain perfectly preserved like an artifact from the golden age of junk food.
While the purchase may seem outrageous to some, it isn’t the first time an everyday object has fetched an unbelievable price due to its resemblance to something famous. In the past, people have shelled out enormous sums for items like a Dorito shaped like the Pope’s hat or a McNugget resembling a character from a popular video game. There’s even the infamous case of an artist taping a banana to a wall, only for it to be sold for an absurd amount before being casually eaten.
The fascination with collectibles—especially ones linked to nostalgia—continues to drive these kinds of sales. Pokémon, in particular, remains a cultural phenomenon that has bridged multiple generations. The franchise, which began in the 1990s, has evolved beyond trading cards and video games into a multi-billion-dollar empire. With that level of influence, it’s no surprise that anything remotely associated with Pokémon can command a premium price.
For the fortunate seller of the Cheetozard, this was likely an unexpected windfall. What started as a random snack discovery turned into a life-changing payday. The buyer, meanwhile, now owns one of the most expensive Cheetos ever sold. Whether this proves to be a wise investment or a fleeting indulgence remains to be seen.
Questions remain about the future of the Cheeto. Will its value continue to rise as a one-of-a-kind collectible? Or will the novelty fade, leaving the owner with an expensive but ultimately perishable curiosity? The world of high-stakes collecting is unpredictable, and sometimes, what seems like a good investment today might become tomorrow’s forgotten trend.
For now, the Cheetozard sits securely in its protective case, untouched and admired from afar. Whether it will remain preserved for decades to come or eventually crumble to dust, one thing is certain: this humble snack has already made history in the strangest way possible.
Other Unusual Collectibles That Sold for Shocking Prices
The Cheetozard isn’t the only bizarre item to fetch an astronomical sum. Over the years, similarly strange collectibles have hit the market, proving that anything can become valuable under the right circumstances.
- McDonald’s Among Us Nugget – A chicken nugget resembling a character from the popular game Among Us sold for an astonishing $99,997 in 2021. Originally part of a McDonald’s BTS Meal, the nugget gained traction after being listed on eBay and attracting widespread attention.
- Dorito Pope Hat – A single Dorito chip, shaped like the Pope’s mitre (ceremonial headdress), managed to sell for over $1,200. While not quite in the same league as the Cheetozard, it still highlights the strange appeal of oddly shaped snacks.
- Grilled Cheese with the Virgin Mary’s Image – A decade-old grilled cheese sandwich that appeared to have the image of the Virgin Mary burned into it sold for $28,000. The sandwich was kept in a protective case, much like the Cheetozard.
- Banana Taped to a Wall – An art piece titled Comedian by artist Maurizio Cattelan featured nothing more than a banana duct-taped to a wall. It sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami before being famously eaten by another artist as a performance stunt.
- Elvis Presley’s Old Water Cup – A Styrofoam cup allegedly used by Elvis Presley in 1977 was sold for $3,300. The seller had originally taken it from a concert and preserved it for decades, banking on the King’s enduring popularity.
- Justin Timberlake’s Half-Eaten French Toast – A piece of French toast partially eaten by Justin Timberlake was auctioned off for $1,025 in 2000. The buyer, a devoted fan, claimed they simply wanted a piece of their idol’s history.
- William Shatner’s Kidney Stone – In one of the strangest celebrity auctions, Star Trek actor William Shatner sold a kidney stone he had passed for $25,000, with the proceeds going to charity.
- A Lock of John Lennon’s Hair – A four-inch lock of John Lennon’s hair was sold at auction for $35,000. Collected by a barber who cut the Beatles legend’s hair before filming How I Won the War, it remains a prized piece of music memorabilia.
- The Original Hollywood Sign Letter “H” – One of the letters from the original Hollywood sign was auctioned off for $450,000. The historic landmark, originally erected in 1923, has since been replaced, but pieces of the old sign remain valuable.
- The Moon Dust Bag – A bag used by astronaut Neil Armstrong to collect moon dust during the Apollo 11 mission was mistakenly auctioned off for just $995 before later being resold for a staggering $1.8 million.
These unusual sales prove that value is often dictated by nostalgia, novelty, and the right audience. Whether a collectible remains valuable over time or simply becomes a fleeting trend is impossible to predict. But one thing is certain—there will always be people willing to pay top dollar for the strangest things.
