The anticipation is as palpable as an unsealed pack of 1986 Fleer basketball cards—those rookie Jordan editions, mind you—as Netflix gears up to drop its third season of “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.” This isn’t just another walk through a dusty basement full of forgotten knick-knacks; this is a full-throttle plunge into the high-stakes arena of collectibles and memorabilia auctions, where fortunes change hands with the hammer’s fall, and collectors stake their claims on pop culture history.
Since its rookie outing in 2023, the show has captured the imaginations of viewers and critics alike, even snagging a Critics Choice Real TV Awards nomination for Best Business Show. It is like the rookie season of a phenom that keeps hitting sensational home runs, or perhaps more fittingly, discovering hidden heirlooms worth a small fortune. While Netflix is still playing coy with the specifics of the release date, the chatter is bubbling in collector circles and beyond.
The show, which peels back the curtain on the competitive and often whimsical world of collectibles, features none other than Ken Goldin himself. If you’re unfamiliar with Ken, picture a mix between an Indiana Jones in business casual and a seasoned auctioneer, his hammer poised at all times. Goldin and his auction house are more than fixtures in this world—they’re the colossi upon whose shoulders the industry rests during frenzied auctions. And as Ken puts it, “It is an exciting time in the collectibles industry with new categories emerging, higher stakes and bids, and interest coming from everywhere. We love to share these incredible moments and stories with a wider audience.”
Season 3 promises to expose even more of the thrilling backstage drama of the world where nostalgia meets the highest bidder. The production continues with luminaries such as Wheelhouse’s Spoke Studios, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, and Connor Schell’s Full Day Productions, all in collaboration with eBay. The legendary online marketplace upped the ante by acquiring Goldin in 2024, indicating that the collectible giant is not just sticking to trading cards but venturing out with a thirst for pop culture memorabilia. They’ve snatched up Studio Auctions, famous for their rare and storied movie props, adding another tantalizing layer to their repertoire.
Like a prized Honus Wagner card, the industry itself is positioned in a boom unseen in recent decades. According to Card Ladder, the auction house brought in more than $32 million alone in trading card sales just this past June, contributing to a jaw-dropping $305 million industry-wide mark for the month. If the global hustle and bustle in this arena is any indication, Goldin has struck all the right chords and bid cards.
Drama in the world of collectibles is not confined to the auctions themselves. Recently, a rather juicy rivalry unfolded when Fanatics Live CEO Nick Bell clashed with Ken on the digital battleground of Instagram. Bell attempted to leverage Ken’s social media clout to trumpet Fanatics’ own auctions. This public duel has intensified the narrative off-screen, punctuating the real-world Scrabble for prominence in this vibrant sector. If you ever thought the world of collectibles was a quiet pastime, think again—this marketplace could give the slickest Wall Street corners a run for their money.
As collectors, couch connoisseurs, and everyone in between await the official notification saying it’s auction time for season three, the element of suspense runs high. What new treasures will surface? What new stories will be penned on the pages of collector’s lore? The return of Ken Goldin on the small screen shines a renewed spotlight not just on the auction house, but on the fever-dream reality of a collectibles industry that’s sharing its colorful, often surprising moments with an intrigued audience.
In the meantime, we can speculate endlessly: are there rare comic books or classic rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia waiting in the wings? Perhaps it’s an obscure movie prop that will strike a chord with nostalgic collectors. Each episode is a promise, a tease of something incredible around the corner, where storied items find new homes and collectors create their own tales. Netflix’s “King of Collectibles” isn’t merely a show; it’s an exploration—a gallant, neon-lit intersection of history, pop culture, and sheer whimsy.
