About Michael Rubin
Michael Rubin, CEO and founder of Fanatics, appeared on WFAN in June 2026, where he stated that the New York Knicks had become the single biggest hot market in Fanatics history, surpassing the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series win. He also said the entire 2026 NBA champion Knicks team was expected to attend Fanatics Fest. Rubin discussed the origins of Fanatics' trading card business, saying the idea was conceived in November 2020 and that he believed existing companies like Panini and Topps were "complacent, fat and happy, not innovative, not marketing." He noted the business started in January 2022 and would be more than a $5 billion business in 2026, with Fanatics overall valued at about $14 billion with 22,000 employees. On gambling, Rubin said Fanatics wants to be "the best at responsible gambling" and "the first to shut somebody off that's got a problem."
In a separate appearance on the podcast "The Burnouts" in July 2024, Rubin shared an anecdote about being embarrassed after falling and bleeding in front of Jay-Z, and recounted a New York Post cover that used an unflattering photo of him, which he said he reposted because he found it funny. He also participated in a segment guessing the resale value of his clothing, including an Amiri jacket and a Prada shirt.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Michael Rubin's recent appearances.
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✨ AI-enhanced transcript with speaker attribution
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Vintage and Hype Sports Cards0:00
What's going on guys? Day four of the National. We're getting a little light on money, so we'll see. It might be a little different today. Hopefully we got some really, really cool things in store for you guys. But let's have a day. Let's go in.
He gave us a stupid deal for whatever reason: $10 for a nuke flamethrower. I feel you can't say 'nuke' in an airport, but we're going to give this to the National 2024 exclusive. So let's break that seal open. Oh my God. All right, I think there's a paper on this, right? Yeah. All right, let's see. Big money, big money flamethrower. Look at that. I know about three baseball players ever. Not bad. Could be the move. One's the gift for you. This one's for you. I know, I don't know if you... Oh, this is so sick. My guys. All right, so he watches the videos. Tell him what's up. What did you do?
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Mojo1:20
So Mojo collects IP autos of people who watch him and stuff like that, and of like sign their favorite players and stuff like that. So my guy Suar Shan Ali, and then kind of like a slogan I've been using: 'It's not gambling, it's collecting.' So I signed that for you, and that's all yours. That's sick, bro. So if you have a favorite player, team, actually UFC fighter, it could be a base card, it could be you know hopefully something non-expensive. If you sign that card, I add them to my PC. So if you like Sha Ali, if you like Conor McGregor, sign the card and give it to me, and I'll put it in a magnetic and I'll show them off at the end of the year. That's why I like this a lot.
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Vintage and Hype Sports Cards1:59
What's your YouTube channel?
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Mojo2:01
YouTube's Vintage and Hype. Instagram: Vintage and Hype Sports Cards.
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Vintage and Hype Sports Cards2:04
How many subscribers you got?
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Mojo2:05
We got 260 yesterday. It's been like doubling every single month.
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Vintage and Hype Sports Cards2:07
260? All right, let's get him to 500 after this video. I've been doing this with we've done it with Justin Gamble, Card Collector 2, Pacman. Now, um, so I have you guys sign something, we give away to subs, kind of get some. So you can sign it, right? Description, whatever you want to put on that. All right, let's do it. So fun for the subscribers to get something that they can't, you know, if they're not here, they can't get something like that. Listen, man, I rarely write this. A lot of people are going to kick out of this. This is going to go on Instagram. I don't know if you know what this means. You about to write one one. All right, that's content, not drama. I can't believe I'm doing it. If you know, you know. Listen, man, my wristband, this is my life right here. Don't take your life too seriously. Radio, I got you. You guys look at that. All right, that's sick. That is a one of one. And then all they got to do is take this home. They got to leave a like, subscribe, and then I'll let you pick what they have to comment to bring that home. Comment down below: why are you in sports cards or why are you in collecting? Like, what's your why? Put that down below. A fire man. Chance to win it here at Jordan from the Flamethrowers. Check this out: taking home the Mickey Mantle on-card auto and the Vic 101. Great working with these guys. Appreciate it. All right, here with William. He's taking home the Jaden Reed 101 NFL shield that we picked up yesterday. He's taking that. I'm taking home the cash. Appreciate it, bro. Appreciate it, man. All right, back at it. Picking up bigger and better every single day. Tom Brady one of one Donruss 2008 printing plate. How about a Tua black box one of one? Splitting with Blitz like we do. Massive deals at the National. Massive deals. Big things even bigger. It's always bigger in Ohio. You know what they say? Pause.
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Interviewer4:11
What's up guys? We're here with Michael Rubin at the National. I had two questions for you. One: how you feel? You having fun? You like this place?
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Michael Rubin4:19
I'm always having fun. First, I got the greatest job in the world. I wake up, I'm excited. It could be, I go to bed like excited to wake up the next day to do this. But it's amazing. You got more than 100,000 incredibly passionate and the best industry in the world. Yeah, one of the best jobs in the world. Not one of the best.
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Interviewer4:33
And then my other question: I don't know how much you can provide, but kind of curious, what is something that we can kind of look forward to as some of these transitions are going to start to happen of, you know, football and stuff like that?
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Michael Rubin4:43
Yeah, I think the same marketing that you've seen in baseball and the other sports, expect to take those same marketing tactics to the other sports they come online. Look, there's been a lot of product innovation. I think Topps Chrome couldn't be any hotter. Look for the same product innovations: debut patch, MVP buyback. All yeah, look, I mean, MVP buyback has been incredibly successful. Hobby shop the best program they have. Right night to benefit all the sports. Debut packs. So lots of great innovations coming.
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Interviewer5:12
Awesome. I appreciate your time. Great, great to see you, man. Appreciate it.
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Vintage and Hype Sports Cards5:15
Check these ones out: PSA 10 Shedeur Sanders Fusion Mini Diamond. Another pickup. Hold for the season. Hopefully gets drafted first overall. Double or nothing pretty much on that guy. Bobby Wagner 101 Power Plays. He's on Washington now. We'll see what happens there. But I mean, he was I think All-Pro last year. So see on that. This is one we took a chance on: David Andrews for the Patriots. My understanding from what I could find is he only has two cards, one being in a rookie and Unparalleled. So a David Andrews 1 of 1, who knows what that can fetch. We're going to speedrun this. Just picked this off like... Jaylen Ramsey. All right, nothing any who. Trey Night's popping. Super busy. We're losing our voices. We just sold two of the biggest cards that we picked up all weekend. Go tell them about it.
I made a deal with Debut Sports, Jets cards, whatever you want to call them. They took a bunch of my stuff. They took the Brady 101 Auto we showed you earlier. They took the 201 1 of 1 Black Box. They paid us $2,800 quick. A little $700 profit and keep it rolling. Let's go. Let's go. But we got a special guest. We're going to rip some football packs. I'd like to introduce everybody to an Ohio football legend: Chad Johnson. Let's hear it, guys. Let's hear it. Real good. My show. Are you going to find? We're going to do some giveaways. We're going to have a blast. You guys ready for all this? Let's hear it. Chad, Chad, want to rip? We got to teach you. You have not ripped a pack. We got to teach Chad how to rip a pack of Bojo. All right, Chad, grab a box. Some football. Wait, is he going to sign? We got some football. That's the last time you open a pack. 1968. That's his. My. Let's go. That's a good one. Got Ray Lewis. I ran him over a bunch of times. John Mean. Nice. Why this one of the kids? I'm asking a question. Who? Jordan. All right, you want to ask a question? Any question? Here, you want to use my box cutter? Answer the question. Ask it here. You want to use my box cutter? All right, what's Chad Johnson's favorite food? What does he always eat? Spaghetti. Spaghetti. Ask him. Ask him. Ask him. Guys, somebody guess. McDonald's. McDonald's. It. McDonald's. Five. Kid. No, that's the best right there. Yeah, anything. The mic. You guys can go one answer at a time. Ready? Of the kids, what does CJ do? CJ stand for? What does CJ stand for? CJ. Maybe I think it's Cincinnati. Chris, Chris, wait. What is it? What CJ and CJ stand for? Give us the first name. Give us the first name. Name. Might give it to him for that. What? Cole Ridge. We're close enough. Got it. That's CL. We got a Will L. Sean Strickland out of 99. Maris Brown 101 High Auto. There he is. Tony out of 20. Ru. Flawless St. Brown. All right, guys, I have a black box. This contains a black box one of one. Let's see what we can get inside. Peel the seal. Trayvon Walker. I just keep it. People me straight up than brother. All right, that's the bottom. Drew Brees. Black Box. Uno de Uno. 1 of 1. How you feel? Can't be mad with it. $70 in redemptions. Black Box with the one. Definitely more than $70. Definitely more than $70. Thank you guys so much for watching. If you guys like sports card content like this, leave a like, comment, and subscribe. We got one more video coming out after this. Let's have a day. And as always, hit the outro. Work. Get to work, camera boy.