Logan Paul's rare Pokémon card sold for a record-breaking $16,492,000, setting the world's most expensive trading card record

BlockBeats News, February 16 — The PSA 10 perfect graded Pikachu Illustrator card, regarded as the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon collectibles and owned by top American influencer Logan Paul, was officially sold at Goldin Auction House early this morning, with a final price of $16,492,000, setting multiple records.

The final hammer price for this card was $13.3 million. After adding a 24% buyer’s premium, the total reached $16.492 million. This sale more than tripled the $5.275 million Logan Paul paid in 2021 and broke the Guinness World Record, becoming the most expensive single trading card ever sold at auction, surpassing previous records in the sports card field.

This card originated from a Pokémon illustration contest held by Japan’s CoroCoro Comic magazine in 1998, with only about 39-41 copies awarded and never publicly released. It was hand-drawn by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu, and features the “Illustrator” exclusive inscription. The card owned by Logan Paul is the only known PSA 10 perfect grade example in the world (Pop 1), widely regarded as the “Mona Lisa of Pokémon.”

The auction lasted 41 days, during which multiple dramatic bidding wars took place. In the final extended bidding phase, intense competition drove the price up with 97 bids received. Logan Paul personally attended the auction, delivering the card along with a diamond-encrusted necklace he wore at WrestleMania 38 to the new owner, and live-streamed the unboxing of other vintage cards for added excitement. The new owner is rumored to be AJ Scaramucci, founder of the venture capital fund Solari Capital and son of former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci.