Man who invented “Pokemon” name lists Midtown South penthouse for $19M

Al Kahn and wife Jillian Crane bought the pad for $5.4M in 2012

From left: the penthouse (credit: Douglas Elliman) and Al Kahn
From left: the penthouse (credit: Douglas Elliman) and Al Kahn

A licensing executive who unleashed the Pokemon craze on the U.S. is trying to catch them all. Millions, that is.

Al Kahn wants $18.95 million for his four-story penthouse at Park South Lofts at 43-45 East 30th Street in Midtown South. The 4,300-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment comes with seven outdoor terraces spanning 1,975 square feet.

Kahn introduced several Japanese animated series to the U.S., including Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon (which was called Pocket Monsters before Kahn came up with the shorter name). Kahn has no involvement with the Pokemon Go mobile game and has “absolutely not” tried ever playing it, he told the Wall Street Journal.

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The licensing executive and his then-fiancee (now wife), actress and writer Jillian Crane, bought the condo unit for $5.4 million in 2012 and spent around $4 million on a gut renovation. They added a built-in sound system and turned the entire third floor into a massive bedroom suite.

Howard Margolis, Jeff Adler and Marie Espinal of Douglas Elliman have the listing. [WSJ]Konrad Putzier