More Trading Card Enthusiasts Are Becoming Millionaires Than Ever Before

Sports admin October 10, 2026 0 Comments

More Trading Card Enthusiasts Are Becoming Millionaires Than Ever Before

The collectibles industry is experiencing a boom. Fans covet sports memorabilia more than ever, be it through auctions or private sales.

Likewise, the trading card industry is attracting more enthusiasts from different age groups. But to tangibly describe the surge, advisor Will Stern shared some numbers.

“The high-end card market continues to rip. There have been 68 $1M (one million) sales so far, compared with 47 across all of 2023, 2024, and 2025. At the current pace, this year would more than double the previous record of $44K,” Stern posted on X, which includes a graph to strengthen the details.

The high-end card market continues to rip.

There have been 68 $1M+ sales so far, compared with 47 across all of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

At the current pace, this year would more than double the previous record of 44.

$100K+ sales are on pace to reach ~2.5x the previous record. pic.twitter.com/cAcqEvVNJm

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— Will Stern (@Will__Stern) October 1, 2026

“$100K sales are on pace to reach ~2.5x the previous record,” he added.

Recent high-value trading card sales

Regarding Stern’s update, a handful of trading cards were sold at high prices. In late September, a 1-of-1 autographed card featuring a patch from the jersey Cooper Flagg wore during his NBA debut netted $8.04 million.

There’s also an Honus Wagner card that sold at auction for $5.86 million. Likewise, a 1/1 Aaron Judge Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Superfractor Autograph BGS 9.5 trading card was sold privately for $5.2 million last March.

Finally, there is an ongoing Goldin auction wherein a signed 1932 Babe Ruth card is going for $700,000. Over at Fanatics Collect, a 2025 Topps 1/1 autographed Logoman Patch card of Shohei Ohtani is also currently priced at $700,000.

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This story was originally published October 10, 2026 at 12:27 AM.