Meanwhile, Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator card sold for $16,492,000 USD early Monday, setting a new auction benchmark for trading cards. Notably, the sale was conducted by Goldin Auctions and established the highest price ever achieved for a trading card at auction. In addition, the PSA 10 copy realized more than three times what Paul paid in 2021, underlining the scale of appreciation in elite collectibles. As a result, the transaction repositions top-tier trading cards as a competitive alternative asset class. However, the result also surpasses the previous record set by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card.
Rarity profile and historical context
Meanwhile, the Pikachu Illustrator remains widely regarded as the rarest Pokémon card ever issued. Notably, the card was released in 1998 as a prize through CoroCoro Comic, with only 39 copies distributed. In addition, Paul’s copy stands alone as the only example graded Gem Mint 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator. At the same time, the card carries artwork by Atsuko Nishida and features the distinctive “Illustrator” header and pen icon. Moreover, Paul previously acquired the card in a private 2021 deal for $5.275 million USD, which was recognized by Guinness World Records at the time. Meanwhile, he later wore the card on a custom diamond chain at WrestleMania 38, and that same chain, valued at approximately $80,000 USD, formed part of the auction lot.
Buyer identity and verified records
Notably, the auction closed after a prolonged bidding contest, with the hammer price reaching $13.3 million USD before the buyer’s premium lifted the total to nearly $16.5 million USD. In addition, reports named the winning bidder as A.J. Scaramucci, the son of Anthony Scaramucci, who accepted the card directly from Paul during a public handover. Meanwhile, according to Guinness World Records, which had a representative present at the livestream Paul hosted alongside Goldin for the sale, the card now holds “a new record title not only for the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction but also the overall record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.” As a result, the transaction resets expectations for high-end collectibles and reinforces the accelerating flow of capital into alternative investment markets.