View this post on Instagram A post shared by Goldin (@goldinco)
A rare Pokémon card famously owned by online celebrity-turned WWE wrestler Logan Paul was auctioned for a record-breaking $16,492,000.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was one of only 39 produced as prizes for a 1998 contest and is the only one to be graded a 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator.
The card became the world’s most expensive Pokémon card when Paul purchased it for $5,275,000 in 2021. He famously wore the card around his neck when he made his debut at WWE’s WrestleMania in 2022.
Paul put the card up on the block via online auction house Goldin, and it sold to AJ Scaramucci for $16,492,000, making it the most expensive Pokémon card sold at auction and the most expensive trading card sold at auction.
THE ILLUSTRATOR HAS FOUND A NEW HOME!@loganpaul passes the torch of the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator to its new owner!
Final Sale Price: $16,492,000 pic.twitter.com/r1oTIVArj7— Goldin (@GoldinCo) February 16, 2026
A Guinness World Records adjudicator was present at the close of the auction to confirm the records.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was designed by Atsuko Nishida, the graphic designer who created Pikachu for the first line of Pokémon video games.
