In an unprecedented moment for trading card history, YouTube personality and entrepreneur Logan Paul has shattered auction records by selling his exceptionally rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for a staggering $16.5 million at Goldin Auctions.
This landmark sale not only sets a new world record for the most expensive Pokémon card but also claims the title for the highest price ever achieved by any trading card at auction, underscoring the enduring popularity and value of Pokémon collectibles.
The highly anticipated auction drew global attention, with bidding extended over a remarkable 41 days.
The climactic closing event was officially overseen by Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson, who verified the record-breaking result during Goldin Auctions' livestream.
Casson affirmed, “This sale has set a new benchmark, not only within the Pokémon TCG community but for trading cards across all categories.” A.J.
Scaramucci, the son of venture capitalist and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, emerged as the winning bidder.
In a celebratory moment, Logan Paul placed the prized Pikachu Illustrator card—secured in its signature custom diamond-encrusted necklace and protective case—around Scaramucci’s neck, commemorating the historic transaction.
Paul expressed his astonishment at the event, stating that the entire experience and final sale price were beyond his wildest expectations. The Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card holds legendary status within the trading card community due to its rarity and origins.
Originally awarded as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest hosted by Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic, the exact print run remains a subject of debate, with reports from Price Charting indicating somewhere between 60 and 100 copies in existence.
Its scarcity, coupled with its unique backstory, has propelled the Pikachu Illustrator card to the forefront of high-value collectibles on the Nintendo platform, captivating both veteran collectors and new fans alike. Logan Paul first brought mainstream spotlight to this particular card in 2022, when he wore it encrusted in a bespoke diamond necklace during his entrance at WrestleMania 38.
His display of the Pikachu Illustrator card at a world-renowned wrestling event further enhanced its fame, showcasing the intersection between pop culture, the Pokémon franchise, and the enduring impact of Nintendo’s intellectual properties. The sale comes at a time when Nintendo’s Pokémon TCG continues to thrive on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and through the Pokémon Company’s expanding media initiatives.
As the Pokémon brand celebrates milestone anniversaries and launches new experiences via the eShop and events like Pokémon GO, the fervor for rare cards and memorabilia demonstrates the franchise’s cultural and financial significance. This historic auction solidifies the Pikachu Illustrator card—as well as Logan Paul’s involvement—as defining moments in the landscape of Pokémon trading cards.
For collectors, investors, and fans of Nintendo’s storied franchise, such milestones further reinforce the Pokémon TCG as a pillar of the company’s success and a testament to the power of gaming nostalgia and rarity.
This landmark sale not only sets a new world record for the most expensive Pokémon card but also claims the title for the highest price ever achieved by any trading card at auction, underscoring the enduring popularity and value of Pokémon collectibles.
The highly anticipated auction drew global attention, with bidding extended over a remarkable 41 days.
The climactic closing event was officially overseen by Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson, who verified the record-breaking result during Goldin Auctions' livestream.
Casson affirmed, “This sale has set a new benchmark, not only within the Pokémon TCG community but for trading cards across all categories.” A.J.
Scaramucci, the son of venture capitalist and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, emerged as the winning bidder.
In a celebratory moment, Logan Paul placed the prized Pikachu Illustrator card—secured in its signature custom diamond-encrusted necklace and protective case—around Scaramucci’s neck, commemorating the historic transaction.
Paul expressed his astonishment at the event, stating that the entire experience and final sale price were beyond his wildest expectations. The Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card holds legendary status within the trading card community due to its rarity and origins.
Originally awarded as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest hosted by Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic, the exact print run remains a subject of debate, with reports from Price Charting indicating somewhere between 60 and 100 copies in existence.
Its scarcity, coupled with its unique backstory, has propelled the Pikachu Illustrator card to the forefront of high-value collectibles on the Nintendo platform, captivating both veteran collectors and new fans alike. Logan Paul first brought mainstream spotlight to this particular card in 2022, when he wore it encrusted in a bespoke diamond necklace during his entrance at WrestleMania 38.
His display of the Pikachu Illustrator card at a world-renowned wrestling event further enhanced its fame, showcasing the intersection between pop culture, the Pokémon franchise, and the enduring impact of Nintendo’s intellectual properties. The sale comes at a time when Nintendo’s Pokémon TCG continues to thrive on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and through the Pokémon Company’s expanding media initiatives.
As the Pokémon brand celebrates milestone anniversaries and launches new experiences via the eShop and events like Pokémon GO, the fervor for rare cards and memorabilia demonstrates the franchise’s cultural and financial significance. This historic auction solidifies the Pikachu Illustrator card—as well as Logan Paul’s involvement—as defining moments in the landscape of Pokémon trading cards.
For collectors, investors, and fans of Nintendo’s storied franchise, such milestones further reinforce the Pokémon TCG as a pillar of the company’s success and a testament to the power of gaming nostalgia and rarity.
