ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS CAN BECOME INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE
What do Han Solo ’ s blaster , a stainless steel rabbit , and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta all have in common ? All have recently achieved world record prices in a red hot collectibles market . That ’ s no small feat in a COVID-imperiled economy with its “ supply chain ” blues followed by the largest 12-month spike of inflation since 1981 . Those served as a massive one-two financial punch that saw many looking for greener pastures in which to invest .
Not that collectibles are anything new , of course . Long have people been attracted to fine art , stamps , coins , jewelry , fine wines , and collector automobiles , but in an uncertain market these “ alternative investments ” can become increasingly attractive . Recent record sales prices tell the tale best . A model of an X- wing fighter used in filming Star Wars brought $ 3.2 million last June . Andy Warhol ’ s 1964 silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe “ Shot Sage Blue Marilyn ” auctioned for $ 195 million in May 2022 . Mike Trout ’ s rookie baseball card from 2009 found $ 3.93 million in August 2020 as the pandemic was raging .
So , what ’ s so attractive for those entering the various collectibles markets ? The answers are likely as varied as the collecting genres themselves . Some seek a departure from an anxiety-inducing stock market , others enjoy their stability
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 55