A rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sold for $16.492 million on Monday, February 16, 2026, at a Goldin online auction, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive trading card sold at auction, according to multiple reports.
The card, purchased by venture capitalist A.J. Scaramucci, son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, was originally acquired by YouTube creator and professional wrestler Logan Paul in 2021 for $5.275 million – a record at the time for a Pokémon card sold in a private sale. Paul had the card encased in a custom diamond necklace and wore it at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, further increasing its notoriety.
During the livestreamed auction closure, Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson confirmed the $16.492 million price as a new record not only for Pokémon cards but for any trading card sold at auction. Paul placed the card around Scaramucci’s neck, accompanied by a diamond necklace valued at $75,000, according to reports.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was designed by Atsuko Nishida for a 1998 contest in Japan. Only a limited number of these cards – estimated between 30 and 40 – were ever produced, and Paul’s card is believed to be the only one with a perfect quality rating of 10 from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). The cards were not intended for general play but were awarded to winners of illustration contests.
Paul’s initial purchase in 2021 too broke a Guinness World Record, and the card has since made appearances at various events, including the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua boxing match, popularly known as Judgement Day, and featured in Season 3 of the Netflix series “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.”
The surge in value of Pokémon cards, and collectible trading cards in general, has been attributed to the enduring popularity of the Pokémon franchise, which began with the release of the “Pocket Monsters” video game series in Japan in 1996. Factors influencing a card’s value include its rarity, the Pokémon it features – such as Pikachu, Charizard, Mew, and Mewtwo – and the artist who created it, like Atsuko Nishida.