Logan Paul’s Pokémon Card Shatters Auction Record at $16.49 Million

A rare Pokémon card, owned by YouTuber and WWE superstar Logan Paul, has sold for a record-breaking $16,492,000, establishing a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon card – and trading card overall – sold at auction. The sale price equates to approximately €13,924,195.

Record-Breaking Sale and New Owner

Paul originally purchased the PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator card in 2021 for $5.28 million, a record at the time for a Pokémon card sold in a private sale . This latest auction saw the card acquired by A.J. Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci . The transaction took place at a Goldin auction .

The Pikachu Illustrator Card: A Collector’s Grail

The Pikachu Illustrator card is exceptionally rare, with only approximately 40 known to exist . It was awarded as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest and was never originally sold commercially . A card graded a “10” by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) signifies a “virtually perfect” condition, with four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus, and full original gloss .

Paul’s History with the Card and Scaramucci’s Plans

Following the auction, Paul ceremoniously placed the card, which was attached to a $75,000 diamond necklace, around Scaramucci’s neck . Scaramucci revealed ambitious plans to acquire other rare and valuable items, including a T-Rex dinosaur fossil and even the Declaration of Independence, calling it a “planetary treasure hunt” .

Paul previously wore the card, encased in a protective case, to his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38 in 2022 . The card also made an appearance at the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua match in 2025 and was featured on the Netflix series “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.”

The Rising Value of Pokémon Cards

The value of Pokémon cards has surged in recent years, attracting both dedicated fans and investors . Factors influencing a card’s value include its rarity, the featured Pokémon (with Pikachu, Charizard, Mew, and Mewtwo being particularly sought after), and the artist who created the illustration .