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Ultra-Rare Pokémon Card Designed by a 6-Year-Old Sells for $156,000

A custom trading card from a 2010 illustration competition just fetched a massive fortune on the auction block.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 1 min read

Pokémon card collecting has officially reached astronomical new heights. An ultra-scarce promo item originally drawn by a six-year-old child back in 2010 just fetched a dizzying six-figure sum on the auction block, proving that gaming nostalgia remains big business. The final hammer dropped at a staggering $156,000 for the piece of pop-culture history, sending shockwaves through the trading card community.

Why did a child's Pokémon card sell for $156,000?

The highly coveted card traces its origins back to an official illustration contest hosted more than a decade ago. A young fan entered an original design into the competition and walked away with top honors. As part of the grand prize, the custom creation was officially printed on a genuine collectible card. Because the item was produced strictly as part of a tiny print run awarded directly to contest participants, virtually no copies were ever released to the general public. That extreme scarcity makes surviving examples practically impossible to find today.

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How rare are contest-exclusive Pokémon promo cards?

Unlike standard expansion sets that ship out in the millions worldwide, contest promos occupy a hyper-exclusive tier within the hobby. Most copies remain locked away in private collections or personal archives, making public sales an exceedingly rare event. When one of these elusive prints actually hits the open market, serious buyers treat it more like high-end art than a trading card game accessory. Bidding wars regularly erupt over items with verified contest lineage and tiny global population counts. The record-setting $156,000 sale highlights the skyrocketing market for pristine vintage memorabilia. As early fans reach peak earning years, childhood hobbies have transformed into high-stakes investment portfolios—and a six-year-old’s 2010 doodle just secured its spot in auction history.

The photos · 4

Pokemon in the story: Ultra-Rare Pokémon Card Designed by a 6-Year-Old Sells for $156,000
Pokemon in the story: Ultra-Rare Pokémon Card Designed by a 6-Year-Old Sells for $156,000
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People also ask

Why is the 2010 contest Pokémon card so expensive?
The card originates from an exclusive 2010 illustration contest and had an extremely small print run, making surviving copies nearly impossible to acquire.
How much did the child-designed Pokémon card sell for?
The rare promotional item fetched a final price of $156,000 at auction.