An extremely rare PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator card belonging to American YouTuber Logan Paul sold for US$16,492,000 at a Goldin auction on Monday, setting a new world record for both Pokémon and overall trading cards. The card, originally purchased by Paul in 2021 for US$5.28 million, was acquired this time by AJ Scaramucci, son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci. Guinness World Records verified the sale and confirmed the record-breaking status.
Following the auction, Paul placed the card, encased and attached to a US$75,000 diamond necklace, around Scaramucci’s neck, creating a highly publicized moment. The Pikachu Illustrator card, designed by Atsuko Nishida—the original creator of Pikachu—was initially issued as a prize for a 1998 illustration contest and was never sold commercially, making it one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence.
The PSA 10 grade indicates a virtually perfect card with four sharp corners, flawless focus, and full original gloss, a designation highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. Pokémon cards have surged in value in recent years, with factors such as rarity, character, and artist driving prices; popular characters like Pikachu, Charizard, Mew, and Mewtwo tend to command the highest premiums.
The record-breaking sale reflects a growing market for collectible trading cards as investment assets, beyond traditional fan collecting. Paul’s previous display of the card at a WWE event in Texas, worn on a gold chain, highlighted the card’s cultural and financial significance, cementing its status as one of the most coveted items in pop culture and collectible markets worldwide.
