Wow! 20-year-old girl collects 60,000 Pokémon cards, experts estimate 'total value exceeds 2.1 billion'

In a story that sounds like it's straight out of a fantasy novel, a 20-year-old Swiss woman, Jolina Gisele, has become a global sensation for her astonishing collection of over 60,000 Pokémon cards. Valued at a staggering 2.16 billion New Taiwan Dollars (roughly £50 million), her collection highlights the extraordinary rise of Pokémon cards from a childhood pastime to a high-stakes global market.

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The Pokémon card market has become excessively expensive, not only distorting the original simple collecting hobby but also increasing the value of the cards, making our family begin to worry about safety.

Jolina's journey began at age seven, using Pokémon cards as a way to connect with peers and bond with her father. What started as a simple hobby has now earned her a Guinness World Record for the largest Pokémon card collection, surpassing even those who started later. Among her prized possessions are two "Pikachu Illustrator" cards, considered the holy grail by collectors worldwide. The market's frenzy is underscored by recent sales, including one version of the "Pikachu Illustrator" card fetching $1.4 million USD at auction, and another graded version reportedly selling for an astronomical $16.5 million USD.

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Previously, my daughter's Pokémon cards could fill an entire room at home. Now, for anti-theft and personal safety, we have to move all these Pokémon cards to a confidential professional storage.

However, this surge in value has cast a dark shadow over the hobby. The Pokémon card market has experienced explosive growth, particularly since the pandemic, leading to a global crime wave. Reports of armed robberies and frequent thefts in countries like France, the US, and the UK are becoming increasingly common. Jolina's father shared his concern, noting how the once innocent collection has become a source of anxiety, forcing the family to relocate the cards to a secure, undisclosed facility for safety.

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These cards have accompanied my daughter's growth. I hope they can be taken over by someone who truly knows how to cherish them in the future, or be displayed in a museum for more people to appreciate this precious collection.

Despite the immense financial value, Jolina's family is considering selling the entire collection rather than auctioning individual cards. Her father expressed a heartfelt wish for the cards to be acquired by someone who truly cherishes them or to be displayed in a museum. He emphasized that the childhood binder Jolina used, filled with her earliest cards, remains priceless and non-negotiable, representing a treasure trove of warm family memories that money cannot buy. This sentiment resonates deeply, reminding us that beyond the speculative market, these cards hold profound personal significance.

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Regardless of how high the price is, the Pokémon collection binder that my daughter used in childhood will always be non-saleable, because it brings warm memories to our family that cannot be measured by money.