Former NFL linebacker Blake Martinez is looking to swap his Southern California home for $6,299,000.
A sale would add to the pile of cash he’s made both on and off the field this year—because he’s also a pro when it comes to the big business of Pokémon cards.
There’s plenty of money to be made with these colorful collectibles. It might even prove to be more lucrative than being a professional football player—and it’s a heck of a lot safer. The recent sale of a rare Pokémon card netted Martinez $672,000 and was one of the factors that led him to retire from the NFL in the middle of the 2022 season.
His recent career change might have also forced a reevaluation of his nearly brand-new Manhattan Beach, CA, home. Martinez and his wife purchased the six-bedroom, 6.5-bath property for $5,985,000 in late May. Seven months later, it’s back on the market with a modest 5% price bump.
The 4,800-square-foot modern farmhouse should appeal to deep-pocketed buyers.
Exterior of the home
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The design aesthetic is bright and airy.
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This cozy nook opens to the petite backyard.
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A happy blue island adds a pop of color.
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There’s oak flooring throughout the kitchen and great room, meshing beautifully with the blue and white color scheme. Lofty ceilings, big windows, and sliding doors let the sunshine in to brighten the rooms.
The kitchen offers quartz counters, custom cabinets, a Thermador range, and a refrigerator with a full-sized beverage fridge on the side.
Lovely bedrooms, a home office, and a party room on the lower level—with a bar and space for all kinds of games and TV viewing—are all worthy of a highlight reel.
A fireplace warms the primary bedroom.
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Designer stone and tile are featured in the bathrooms.
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An excellent media room for family and guests
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An adorable patio looks out to a lush yard.
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Martinez, a longtime player and collector of Pokémon, apparently owns some 40,000 of the colorful cards.
He broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Green Bay Packers and starred as linebacker for the team for four seasons. A two-year stint with the New York Giants ended with a knee injury. He signed a free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in October, played in four games, and then hung up his cleats to pursue his passion for Pokémon.
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