Kenneth Goldin (born August 18, 1965) is an American auctioneer, television personality, and sports card collector. He has sold over $1.3 billion in memorabilia related to sports, history, and pop culture in his career,[1] including through his company, Goldin Auctions.[2] He is featured on the Netflix TV series King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.
In 1985, in a trial overseen by Maryanne Barry, Goldin pleaded guilty to wire fraud after using credit card numbers he had fraudulently obtained by rummaging through garbage in order to play the MegaWars online game at a cost of up to $12 an hour.[7] He was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine and $3,750 in restitution to CompuServe, the game's provider; he could have faced five years in prison and fines of $250,000.[8]
Goldin formed The Score Board, Inc., with his father in 1986, which became known for creating the classic brand of trading cards.[6] They also signed athletes to exclusive autograph contracts. The company went public in 1987 and made $1 million in sales. They sold $20 million in 1989.[5] Goldin left The Score Board in 1997 and, from 1998 to 2011, supplied sports collectibles to TV shopping outlets like QVC and HSN.[9][10]
Goldin has been a regular guest on national television channels such as Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and ESPN,[11][12][13] where he discusses trends and insights in the collectibles industry.[14] Goldin has sold more than $1.3 billion worth of collectibles, including sports memorabilia and historical artifacts, throughout his career.[1][15]
Goldin Auctions
In 2012, Goldin established Goldin Auctions.[16][17] The company became worth $102 million in 2020.[3] In May 2024, his company was purchased by eBay; he continues to operate it as founder and CEO.[18][19]
His Netflix show King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch debuted on Netflix on April 28, 2023. It was renewed for a second season,[20][21] which debuted on June 12, 2024.[22][23] The show peaked at No. 4 in the United States and No. 20 worldwide.[24]
Philanthropy
Goldin serves as the Chairman of the Camcare Charitable Foundation. Through this role, he supports various community initiatives and projects aimed at making a positive impact.[25]
As a member of the Philadelphia Museum of Sports' Board of Directors, Goldin contributes to preserving sports history and promoting education through exhibits and programs.[26]
^Von Bergen, Jane M. "Computer game led to conviction", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 11, 1985. Accessed June 30, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "A computer buff's addiction to a space war game landed him in federal court yesterday and eventually could cost him more than a quarter of a million dollars and five years in jail. Kenneth Goldin, 19, of Cherry Hill, a pre-law student who sometimes stayed up all night to defend his computer's "solar system" from attack, pleaded guilty yesterday in US District Court here to committing wire fraud to pay for his addiction to the computer game, Mega Wars."
^via Associated Press. "Computer addict sentenced for fraud", The Record, July 30, 1985. Accessed June 30, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Kenneth Goldin was placed on three years of probation and fined $500. He also was ordered to repay $3,750 he owed an Ohio computer company for playing its MegaWars game, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Wiener. Goldin, a prelaw student from Cherry Hill who will be entering his third year at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., this fall, could have been ordered to serve up to five years in prison and fined $250,000."