Jolina Gisèle, a 20-year-old collector who has gained public attention for her extensive Pokémon card collection, has denied claims that she is an AI construct or a brand ambassador. Gisèle, who has been dubbed the 'Pokémon Princess,' revealed her collection, reportedly stored in a Swiss vault and valued at £90 million, in an interview with Tatler magazine.
The collection is said to comprise 60,000 cards, including ultra-rare items such as a shadowless Charizard, which can reportedly fetch up to £740,000. It also contains 180 Mews and Mewtwos, 208 Charizards, and 260 Pikachus, along with two coveted 'illustrator' editions.
Gisèle stated that her interest in Pokémon trading cards began in her childhood in rural Switzerland, where it fostered a sense of unity among children of different ages. Her father, Urs, who described himself as an AI security entrepreneur and engineer, supported her hobby, finding it a way to connect with his daughter amidst his demanding work. He noted that the collection initially grew modestly until the mid-2010s, after which the focus shifted to acquiring increasingly rare cards online.
Both Jolina and her mother expressed concerns at times about the extent of the spending, with Jolina recalling numerous daily packages arriving and her father becoming deeply invested in acquiring cards. Her father confirmed that a significant portion of their discretionary funds was allocated to the collection, eventually filling their home.
Gisèle indicated that she and her family are now looking to sell the entire collection, citing that the hobby has lost some of its appeal due to its current inaccessibility. She emphasized the unique aspect of having every single card and expressed that breaking up the collection would be a significant loss given the time and effort invested.
Little public information was available about Gisèle prior to her recent disclosures. The market for vintage Pokémon cards has seen substantial growth since the pandemic, contributing to the increased valuation of such collections. The Essex brothers, Owen and Conner Grey, currently hold the Guinness World Record for the largest Pokémon card collection with 43,339 cards.