How Pokémon Became the World’s Most Valuable Franchise

Thirty years ago, a boy’s childhood love of catching insects and small animals sparked a global phenomenon.

On February 27, 1996, Satoshi Tajiri launched “Pocket Monsters” on Nintendo Game Boy in Japan—soon shortened to “Pokemon”—and the world was never the same.

Today, Pokemon holds the Guinness World Record as the most valuable media franchise of all time, with total estimated revenues exceeding $100 billion.

That surpasses entertainment giants like Marvel, Star Wars, and Mickey Mouse.

The empire spans video games, an animated TV series, blockbuster movies, and a wildly popular trading card game.

Earlier this month, a rare Pokemon card paired with a diamond-encrusted necklace sold for a staggering $16.492 million, proving the franchise’s enduring cultural and financial power.