Kumari Shreya
Collecting unique and historical items has been a hobby that has existed worldwide for a long time. Though the exact items the collectors gather depend upon the individual, the core essence of wanting to own something of immense value remains persistent. In Netflix’s ‘King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,’ we see Ken Goldin, who helps collectors around the world buy or sell unique collectibles. In fact, his connections, experiences, as well as overall work ethic have made the businessman one of the biggest and best in the field.
Ken Goldin’s Passion for Collectibles Started Early
Ken’s interest in collectibles started when he was just thirteen and learned about the existence of baseball cards plus memorabilia. As he exchanged his electric racetrack cars for 5,000 baseball cards from his friend, he began his journey into a world that would soon see him as a true professional. To hone his business skills, he became a student at the George Washington University School of Business in 1983, only to leave in 1985 so as to enroll at Drexel University for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management.
In 1986, while he was still a student, Ken and his father established The Score Board Inc. The following years saw him graduating from Drexel University and his company going public for the first time. Having sales worth about $1 million in 1987, the organization continued to grow, hitting the $20 million mark within the ensuing two years – in 1989 – and selling collectibles worth $100 million in 1994. The company’s success made Ken well-known among the public, and he even appeared on various television shows.
However, in 1997, Ken gave up his position as co-founder and CEO of The Sports Inc., only for it to go bankrupt the following year owing to an overabundance of baseball cards at that point. He actually subsequently chose to establish Goldin Sports Inc. all by himself in January 1998 and took up the position of its CEO, enabling his work in the collectibles industry. For a long time, Ken worked independently and continued to garner name and fame both within the industry as well as worldwide owing to his sheer success.
Knowing just how valuable the internet had become in the marketplace, Ken gradually even started auctioning items on platforms like Instagram. Soon enough, he launched Goldin Auctions in January 2012, leading to some of his most well-known sales over the years. Thanks to his charm, people skills, plus phenomenal work, Ken is even on good terms with celebrities like Barry Bonds, Drake, Joe Montana, and Mike Tyson, who have been featured in the Netflix show. He is also quite close to Peyton Manning, the celebrated football player who is not only one of the investors in Ken’s company but also helped create ‘King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.’
Ken Goldin is Still a Proud Businessman and Family Man
As of writing, Ken continues to thrive as a successful businessman. He is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Chairman at Goldin Auctions, where he works alongside a skilled team that is just as dedicated as him when it comes to finding rare collectibles and auctioning them to people worldwide. As if that’s not enough, with him being at the forefront of the Netflix show across its two seasons until now, plus people becoming more aware of what it means to be a collector as well as how getting your hand on a valuable item can easily turn your life around, he has continued to expand even further.
Interestingly, one of the biggest reasons behind Ken choosing to partner up with Netflix for the show is Brett Oppenheim from ‘Selling Sunset.’ “He called me up even before I had a deal or even an offer and told me I needed to go with Netflix,” the life-long collector/entrepreneur shared with The Sun. “He said, ‘I signed with Netflix, and I never have to spend any money advertising for my real estate agency because Selling Sunset does everything for me.’ He convinced me to go with Netflix even before I got an offer.” Another reason behind the decision was that the streaming giant has a worldwide audience, much like the clientele that Goldin Auctions caters to.
As for Ken’s personal standing, he is happily married to Jennifer “Jenn” Goldin. He had previously tied the knot with another woman of the same name – Jennifer – following a proposal in Puerto Rico, but that union unfortunately ended in divorce. Though it’s evident this entrepreneur, reality television star, and public figure doesn’t regret that relationship one bit since it gave him a loving daughter, Laura Goldin. Additionally, he has two other children with his now partner, Paul and Carleigh, whose care appears to be his number one priority these days. In fact, he has actually made it clear that he’s currently building a sports memorabilia collection for his baseball-loving son and that all the fortune he’s accumulating through his lucrative work is for his kids.
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