Logan Paul's Pikachu Illustrator Card Sells for Record-Breaking $16.5 Million
The most famous Pokemon card in the world has a new owner — and a new record price tag.
Logan Paul's ultra-rare PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card sold for a staggering US$16.492 million (approximately S$22.1 million) at Goldin auctions on Monday, February 17, 2026, making it the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
The sale shattered the previous auction record of US$12.6 million set by a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card in 2022, cementing Pokemon trading cards as serious competitors in the world of high-value collectibles.
From $5.3 Million to $16.5 Million
Paul originally acquired the card in July 2021 through a deal worth US$5.275 million — swapping a PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator card (valued at $1.275 million) plus $4 million in cash. That purchase itself set a Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokemon card sold privately.
The card's value has more than tripled in under five years, earning Paul an estimated $8 million in profit after auction fees.
The Holy Grail of Pokemon Cards
So what makes this particular card so special?
The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally distributed as a prize in a 1998 Japanese illustration contest run by CoroCoro Comic magazine. Only about 41 copies are known to exist worldwide.
Of those 41, only 20 have been graded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), and Logan Paul's card is the only one to receive a perfect Grade 10 — meaning it is in virtually flawless condition. This makes it truly one-of-a-kind among an already extremely rare card.
Goldin Auctions described the card as "one of the Holy Grails of the collectibles industry," noting it embodies "a timeless design, an exclusivity that the overwhelming majority of the globe's population can only dream of attaining, and a unique story that creates prestige and drama."
The Diamond Necklace and WrestleMania Connection
The sale included more than just the card. Paul included the custom diamond-encrusted necklace (appraised at US$75,000) he famously wore to display the card during his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. That moment became one of the most iconic images in modern collectibles culture.
Paul personally hand-delivered the card and necklace to the winning bidder.
Who Bought It? Meet AJ Scaramucci
The winning bidder was AJ Scaramucci, founder of venture capital firm Solari Capital and son of financier and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
Scaramucci appeared on Paul's YouTube livestream after the auction closed at 1:14 AM ET, revealing ambitious plans that go far beyond Pokemon cards.
"My ambition for the card is just a small story," Scaramucci said. "The real story is that I'm on a planetary treasure hunt. I'm planning to buy a T. rex dinosaur fossil, the Declaration of Independence, and I'm not stopping there. This is only the beginning."
Paul hung the diamond necklace around Scaramucci's neck during the handover.
42 Days and 97 Bids
The auction ran for 42 days on the Goldin platform. In a dramatic finish, the price held at $6.882 million until a flurry of last-minute bids during an extended bidding period lasting several hours drove the final total to $16.492 million from 97 total bids.
"Oh my gosh, this is crazy," Paul said as confetti rained down during his YouTube livestream. A Guinness World Records adjudicator then appeared on-screen to officially declare it the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
What This Means for the TCG Market
This record-breaking sale sends a powerful signal to the entire trading card market:
- Pokemon cards have outpaced sports cards as the most valuable collectible cards in the world
- Pokemon cards have beaten the S&P 500 stock market by 3,000% over the past 20 years, according to Goldin CEO Ken Goldin
- The market for Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering cards continues to attract serious collectors and investors, especially among Gen Z
- Some collectors are now choosing to invest in Pokemon cards over traditional stocks
Logan Paul's Next Chapter
During the livestream, Paul also announced RipIt, a new collectibles business he is launching. He bid farewell to his prized card on Instagram before the auction: "Goodbye my friend. What a privilege it's been to be the owner of the greatest collectible in the world."
Paul admitted the sale proceeds would help fund his "expensive wedding" — he married Danish model Nina Agdal in a lavish ceremony at Lake Como, Italy, in August 2025.
The card also featured prominently in Season 3 of Netflix's "King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch," where Goldin was seen persuading Paul to part with his prized possession.
Singapore TCG Market Impact
For Singapore's growing TCG community, this record sale reinforces the long-term value potential of well-preserved, professionally graded trading cards. Whether you're collecting Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, or other franchises, proper card care and professional grading through services like PSA, BGS, or CGC can significantly impact a card's future value.
At TCG.SG, our AI-powered card scanning tool can help you assess your cards' condition before sending them for professional grading — giving you a head start on building a valuable collection.