An ultra-rare Pokémon trading card once owned by YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul has rewritten auction history, selling for $16,492,000 on February 16 and becoming the most valuable trading card ever sold.
The card — a Pikachu Illustrator graded PSA 10, meaning near-perfect condition — was purchased at a Goldin auction by AJ Scaramucci, son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci. Representatives from Guinness World Records were present and confirmed both records: the highest price paid for a Pokémon card and for any trading card at auction.
Paul himself had acquired the same card in 2021 for $5.28 million, a record at the time. After the winning bid this week, he ceremonially placed the card around Scaramucci’s neck, still mounted in the custom diamond pendant he had previously commissioned. The necklace alone is valued at about $75,000.
The Pikachu Illustrator card is not part of a retail Pokémon set. It was awarded in 1998 to winners of a Japanese illustration contest organized by the franchise. Only a handful are believed to exist, and even fewer survive in pristine condition.
Its appeal goes beyond rarity. The artwork was created by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu, giving it historical importance within the franchise. Collectors often prize cards featuring iconic characters such as Pikachu, Charizard, Mew, and Mewtwo — but this specific card sits in a category of its own because it represents the creative origins of Pokémon itself.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) assigns condition ratings on a 1–10 scale. A PSA 10 requires flawless corners, surface gloss, and sharp imagery. Achieving that grade for a 1998 promotional card is exceptionally uncommon, significantly amplifying its value.
Pokémon cards began as childhood collectibles in the late 1990s, traded casually among schoolchildren. Over the past decade, however, the market has shifted. Serious collectors and alternative-asset investors now compete for high-grade cards, treating them similarly to fine art, vintage watches, or rare coins.
Prices surged during the pandemic era as nostalgia-driven buyers entered the market, and celebrity involvement accelerated the trend. Paul himself helped revive mainstream interest when he publicly revealed his purchase and later wore the card to a WWE event in Texas.
The final $16.4 million price includes the auction’s buyer premium and marks a dramatic increase in value in just four years — more than tripling Paul’s original purchase price.
The sale highlights a broader change in what society considers “luxury.” Items once associated with pop culture fandom — comics, sneakers, and trading cards — are now competing with traditional collectibles. For many buyers, the appeal lies in cultural significance as much as scarcity.
With more than 1,000 Pokémon characters introduced across generations, the franchise continues expanding its audience. Yet the Illustrator card remains uniquely desirable: it was never sold in stores, never mass-produced, and is tied directly to the franchise’s creation.
In other words, it isn’t just a collectible — it’s a piece of entertainment history.