Goldin
Acquired9 known investors
Goldin is a US sports, history and pop-culture collectibles auction house, founded in 2012 and acquired by eBay in 2024.
Also known as Goldin · Goldin Auctions
Founders & leadership
Investors · 9
Also in the syndicate · 8
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Goldin (Goldin Auctions) is an auction house specializing in high-value collectibles, principally sports trading cards and memorabilia, alongside historical and pop-culture items. Founded in 2012 by Ken Goldin, the business runs online-led auctions of graded cards and signed or game-used artifacts, and has been described as one of the largest sports auction houses in the collectibles industry.
The company is known for record-setting single-item sales, including a Mike Trout rookie card that sold for $3.9 million in 2020 (then an all-time card record), a Giannis Antetokounmpo card at $1.1 million, and Michael Jordan PSA 10 rookie cards at $738,000 each. Across his career, founder Ken Goldin has sold more than $2 billion of sports, history and pop-culture memorabilia. Goldin's profile was amplified by the Netflix docuseries "King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch," which debuted on April 28, 2023 and returned for a second season on June 12, 2024.
Ownership has changed several times: after a $40 million investment led by The Chernin Group announced in 2021, the company was sold in 2021 to Collectors Holdings, a group owned by Steve Cohen, Nat Turner and Dan Sundheim, and then acquired by eBay in a transaction announced in April 2024. Ken Goldin continues to lead the company as founder and CEO, with the business operating independently within eBay.
Founding story
Founder Ken Goldin grew up in the Philadelphia area collecting baseball cards, began selling them in 1978, and built an earlier career in the collectibles trade through The Score Board, Inc. (founded 1986 with his father) and later supplying sports collectibles to TV shopping outlets such as QVC and HSN from 1998 to 2011. He founded Goldin Auctions in 2012.
Business model
Goldin operates as an auction house, consigning and selling high-value sports cards, memorabilia and other collectibles to bidders through its auction platform.
Traction
Goldin Auctions grossed more than $100 million in sales in 2020 and was reported to be worth $102 million that year. Ken Goldin has stated more than $300 million of sales in 2022. Individual results include a $3.9 million Mike Trout rookie card and a $1.1 million Giannis Antetokounmpo card.
Latest developments
Following the eBay acquisition, Goldin acquired movie-props auction house Studio Auctions in June 2025 to move into entertainment memorabilia, held its first major public showcase in Japan, and in August 2025 Ken Goldin said he was targeting a $10 million sale price for a single modern card.
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Goldin has been characterized as one of the largest and most prominent sports auction houses in the collectibles market, noted for early adoption of modern-card auctions and for setting record prices on individual items.
Go-to-market
Collectors and investors in sports cards, memorabilia, historical artifacts and pop-culture items, including international buyers in markets such as Australia, China, Japan and the Philippines.
Geography
The company is US-based, with buyers drawn from international markets including Australia, China, Japan and the Philippines, and has staged a major public showcase in Japan.
History
Ken Goldin, who began selling baseball cards in 1978 and co-founded The Score Board, Inc. with his father in 1986, established Goldin Auctions in 2012. The company was valued at $102 million in 2020. In 2021 it announced a $40 million capital infusion from The Chernin Group and a group of athlete and executive investors, and was subsequently sold that year to Collectors Holdings, owned by Steve Cohen, Nat Turner and Dan Sundheim. In April 2024, eBay announced its acquisition of Goldin Auctions from Collectors Holdings, with terms undisclosed and closing expected in Q2 2024. In June 2025 Goldin acquired Studio Auctions, a movie props auction house, extending its offering into Hollywood and entertainment memorabilia.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsGoldin Auctions acquired Studio Auctions, a rare movie props auction house, to expand into Hollywood and entertainment memorabilia.
Goldin Auctions staged its first major public showcase in Japan, bringing high-end sports memorabilia to collectors there.
eBay agreed to acquire Goldin Auctions from Collectors Holdings as part of a series of transactions between the two parties; financial terms were not disclosed and the deal was expected to close in Q2 2024. Ken Goldin remained CEO and founder and the company continued to operate independently. Centerview Partners advised eBay; Allen & Company and Sullivan & Cromwell advised Collectors Holdings.
The Netflix docuseries featuring Ken Goldin and Goldin Auctions premiered on April 28, 2023 and was renewed for a second season, which debuted June 12, 2024.
Goldin Auctions announced a $40 million capital infusion from The Chernin Group, with participation from athletes, entertainers and executives including Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Mark Cuban and Chad Hurley. Proceeds were earmarked for building the auction house, including updated technology.
$40M source ↗
Alongside the Chernin Group investment, Ross Hoffman, previously an executive at Twitter and Headspace, was named CEO, with founder Ken Goldin staying on as chairman.
Goldin Auctions was sold in 2021 to Collectors Holdings, a group owned by Steve Cohen, Nat Turner and Dan Sundheim.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Rovell: Goldin Auction Raises $40 Million in Latest Round of Fundingactionnetwork.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Goldin do?
- Goldin is a US sports, history and pop-culture collectibles auction house, founded in 2012 and acquired by eBay in 2024.
- Who founded Goldin?
- Goldin was founded by Ken Goldin.
- Who are Goldin's investors?
- Goldin's investors include The Chernin Group (TCG Crypto).