Influencer and professional wrestler Logan Paul has sold his prized Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for an astonishing $16.492 million, setting a new world record for the most expensive trading card sold at auction. The deal also included a custom diamond-encrusted necklace, which Paul famously wore during WrestleMania 38 and promised to deliver personally to the winning bidder.
Paul originally purchased the ultra-rare Grade 10 card in 2021 for $5.275 million, trading in a Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator and cash. The recent auction through Goldin reportedly earned him over $8 million in profit after fees. Reacting to the sale, Paul described the outcome as “absolutely insane” during the livestream celebrating the auction’s conclusion.
The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of only 39 produced in the late 1990s for a Pokémon illustration contest. Paul’s copy is the only card to receive a PSA Grade 10 rating, making it the highest-graded Illustrator card in existence. Pokémon cards have surged in value over the past two decades, outperforming sports cards and even the S&P stock market, making this sale a major milestone for collectors.
Logan Paul is known for investing in high-value collectibles, including NFTs and rare memorabilia. Ahead of the auction’s end, he posted a farewell message on Instagram, calling the card “the greatest collectible in the world” and reflecting on the privilege of having owned such a legendary piece of Pokémon history.
