Logan Paul has made trading card history once again, selling his rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for a staggering $16.4 million and setting a new world record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at an auction.
The Goldin auction was started a week early due to “overwhelming demand,” and the sale more than triples the roughly $5 million he paid for the card in 2021, marking one of the most dramatic flips the collectibles market has ever seen and cementing the Pokémon TCG’s place at the very top of the high-end memorabilia world.
Why is the Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 card so rare?
The legendary Pikachu Illustrator is widely considered the rarest Pokémon card ever produced. Originally awarded to winners of a 1997/98 CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan, only 39 copies are believed to exist, and only a handful have received pristine grades. The one that Paul holds is a one-of-one PSA 10, which means that it’s in absolutely flawless condition.
The artwork on the Pikachu Illustrator card was created by Atsuko Nishida. She is one of the original Pokémon illustrators and character designers at Game Freak. The card is also rare because of its unique “Illustrator” designation, instead of the standard “Trainer” label, which further separates it from every other Pokémon card ever printed.
Logan first acquired the card in 2021 from Marwan Dubsy in a deal valued at $5.3 million, at the time setting a Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon card purchase. The acquisition became a viral moment on the internet, with Paul even wearing the graded card around his neck during his WrestleMania 38 appearance, turning it into a mainstream pop culture spectacle.
Now, with the Goldin auction closing at $16.4 million, the sale does more than just reset the Pokémon market. It establishes a new benchmark across the entire trading card industry, surpassing previous records held by rare sports/video games cards.
Who purchased the Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 from Logan Paul?
AJ Scaramucci, founder and managing partner of Solari Capital and the son of former White House Director Anthony Scaramucci, ultimately secured the $16.4 million card. Speaking on Paul’s card opening stream, he described himself as being on a “planetary treasure hunt,” adding that as a lifelong Pokémon fan, there was no better way to begin that journey than by acquiring the iconic card.
Logan has long worn his passion for Pokémon on his sleeve, even going as far as pitching ideas for a nostalgia-driven title that would reconnect longtime fans with the franchise’s roots.
What’s next for Logan Paul?
With the record-breaking sale now complete, Paul said he is moving on to his “next Pokémon journey,” suggesting that another headline-grabbing addition to his collection may already be on the horizon.
