Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci has defended his son's headline-grabbing purchase, saying critics are missing the bigger investment thesis behind the $16.5 million deal.

In a post earlier this month, Scaramucci pushed back on skepticism after his son, AJ Scaramucci, acquired a rare "Pikachu Illustrator" card from Logan Paul in a record-setting deal.

"Yeah — I'm proud," Scaramucci wrote on X, noting that the purchase wasn't impulsive.

He described his son as a lifelong Pokémon collector, venture capitalist and entrepreneur who views the card as a "one of one" asset.

"He didn't wake up one morning and decide to spend $16.5 million on a card," he said.

Don't Miss:

Investors With $1M+ Often Use Advisors for Tax Strategy — This Tool Matches You With One in Minutes

Most Americans underestimate what they'll need to retire. Take a quick quiz to see if you're prepared.

According to Scaramucci, the investment thesis hinges on generational wealth and nostalgia.

He pointed out that many dedicated Pokémon collectors are currently in their 30s — and could have significantly greater purchasing power in the decades ahead.

"Imagine those same people in their 60s. With real money. With nostalgia," he said, adding that "the possibilities are endless."

Scaramucci said his son is building a broader strategy around acquiring unique, non-replicable items through a venture he described as "Treasure Trove."

These include ambitions to own assets such as a T-Rex fossil or even a copy of the Declaration of Independence — items he characterized as impossible to reproduce or devalue.

"Before long he's going to have a balance sheet full of things that are truly irreplaceable," he said.

My son AJ just bought a Pokémon card for $16.5 million.And yeah — I'm proud.Here's the thing people don't understand about that purchase.AJ has been a Pokémon collector his whole life. Stanford Business School. Serial entrepreneur. Venture capitalist.He didn't wake up one… pic.twitter.com/IU3ppF99zV

— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) March 19, 2026

See Also: You Saved for Retirement — But Do You Know What You'll Keep After Taxes?

In November 2025, it was reported that Scaramucci and his son AJ, have backed a Bitcoin venture co-founded by Eric Trump and supported by Donald Trump Jr.

AJ's firm, Solari Capital, led a $220 million funding round in July 2025 for the mining company American Bitcoin. The investment was made before the company went public via a reverse merger in September.

Solari Capital contributed more than $100 million to the round, while Anthony Scaramucci also invested a separate, undisclosed personal amount.

Scaramucci previously also revealed that at age 28, he bought $1,200 worth of Microsoft Corp stock for his son AJ shortly after he was born in September 1992.

Read Next: 

What If Tires Didn't Need Air — Or Replacing? This Startup Says It's Possible

Instead of buying someone else's ETF, build an index around your own thesis with Public's AI tools. Get started and see if you qualify for the 1% match.

Photo Courtesy: Al Teich On Shutterstock

Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:

APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report

TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article Anthony Scaramucci Explains 'What People Don't Understand' About His Son's $16.5 Million Pokémon Card Purchase And Why He's 'Proud' Of It originally appeared on Benzinga.com