A rare Pokémon card featuring Pikachu sold for $16.492 million on Sunday at Goldin Auctions, becoming the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction. The card, a 1998 Japanese Pikachu Illustrator, was purchased by Logan Paul, a social media influencer and professional wrestler, in 2021 for $5.275 million.
The 42-day auction saw intense bidding, particularly in the final hours. According to CNN, the price climbed to $6.882 million before a surge of last-minute bids extended the auction and ultimately drove the final price to $16,492,000. A total of 97 bids were placed during the auction period.
Guinness World Records confirmed the record-breaking sale, presenting Paul with documentation recognizing the achievement. The winning bidder will also receive a diamond-encrusted necklace previously worn by Paul during WrestleMania 38, which he pledged to deliver personally.
The Pikachu Illustrator card is exceptionally rare, with only 39 copies produced in the late 1990s as prizes for winners of an illustration contest held by CoroCoro Comic. Paul’s card is unique in that It’s the only Illustrator card to receive a perfect 10 grade from the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), signifying its flawless condition. Of the cards graded by Beckett, the highest grade received was a mint 9.
Paul announced his decision to sell the card on Instagram on Saturday, writing, “Farewell, my friend. It was a privilege to own the most magnificent card in the world.” He is estimated to have made a profit of over $8 million after auction fees, describing the sale as “absolutely insane.”
The surge in Pokémon card values is attributed to a combination of nostalgia and the influence of high-profile collectors like Paul, who publicly showcase their purchases and “box breaks.” The Pokémon card market has experienced significant growth since 2020, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people sought out childhood hobbies. Pokémon cards are also increasingly viewed as investment assets, leading to substantial price increases and instances of stores being quickly depleted of stock.
Goldin Auctions described the card as an “unimaginable Holy Grail piece.” The company received the auction rights for Paul’s card after a negotiation where Goldin offered a personal check for $2.5 million and a share of the auction proceeds to convince Paul to consign the card.
