Kevin O’Leary Says He Wants “5% Of His Portfolio” In Collectible Cards, As His Company Buys $11 Million Baseball Card From Florida Teenager

Kevin O’Leary, a principal at Secure Collectibles, announced he wants to allocate 5% of his portfolio to collectible cards, following the purchase of a record $11 million 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani card. This card, a 1/1 Topps Chrome redemption autographed in English and Kanji, is part of the Back to Back Gold Logoman set, honoring MLB players who received major awards in 2024 and 2025. Ohtani won the NL MVP award, making the card particularly significant.

O Leary's company, Secure Collectibles, acquired the card at Boca Sports Cards in Boca Raton, Florida, from a teenage finder. The card, described as an "ultra modern card" by O Leary, symbolizes Ohtani's transcendence beyond his sport. O Leary argues that collectible cards represent an alternative asset class, comparing them to an ETF-style investment vehicle. He believes that diversification among the finest cards is crucial for portfolio diversification.

However, O Leary also acknowledges the drawbacks of investing in collectible cards. He points out that these cards produce no income, carry heavy transaction costs, and can remain unsold for decades. Moreover, the valuation of such cards is opaque, with no daily market price available. The asset class remains illiquid, with only a handful of instances of similar cards being traded in the past 30 years.

Lastly, retiree allocation to this asset class lacks continuous pricing, cheap exit, and fast settlement – features inherent to ETFs.