Logan Paul's Pikachu Illustrator Card Sells for Record-Breaking $16.49 Million USD

Summary

• Logan Paul’s rare “Pikachu Illustrator” card has sold for $16.49 million USD at Goldin Auctions
• The card is the only known copy in existence graded PSA Gem Mint 10 and the sale sets a new world record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction
• The winning bidder, identified as A.J. Scaramucci, received the card personally from Paul, along with a custom diamond-encrusted pendant

The “Holy Grail” of Pokémon cards has officially ascended to new heights. Logan Paul‘s famed Pikachu Illustrator card sold for a staggering $16,492,000 USD early Monday morning, obliterating previous records to become the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction. The sale, hosted by Goldin Auctions, saw the pristine PSA 10 card fetch more than three times what the WWE superstar originally paid for it in 2021, cementing its status as the ultimate collectible asset.

The Pikachu Illustrator is widely considered the rarest Pokémon card in the world. Originally released in 1998 as a prize for an illustration contest by CoroCoro Comic, only 39 copies were officially distributed. Paul’s specific copy is unique even among that exclusive group: it is the only one in the world to receive a perfect Gem Mint 10 grading from PSA. The card features artwork by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu, and is distinct for its unique “Illustrator” header and pen icon.

Logan Paul purchased the card in a private sale in 2021 for $5.275 million USD — a Guinness World Record at the time. He famously turned the collectible into a pop-culture moment by wearing it on a custom diamond chain to his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38. That same chain, valued at approximately $80,000 uSD, was included in the auction lot.

The auction concluded after a fierce bidding war, with the final price reaching $13.3 million USD before the buyer’s premium brought the total to nearly $16.5 million USD. Reports identified the winning bidder as A.J. Scaramucci, son of financier Anthony Scaramucci, who was present to receive the card directly from Paul in a publicized handover. According to the Guinness World Records which had a representative at the livestream Paul hosted alongside Goldin for the sale, this card now holds “a new record title not only for the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction but also the overall record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.”

This sale redefines the ceiling for the trading card market, surpassing the previous auction record held by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card. It marks a massive return on investment for Paul and highlights the continued explosion of high-end alternative assets.

Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator has OFFICIALLY sold for $16,492,000

“A new record title not only for the most expensive Pokemon card ever sold at auction but also the overall record for the most expensive trading card EVER sold at auction” pic.twitter.com/uxLFqp0irQ

— Jack (@Jackkk) February 16, 2026