Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator Sells for Record $16.49 Million
Logan Paul’s PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator shattered records at $16.49 million, becoming the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
One of the most extraordinary moments in collectibles history unfolded at Goldin when Logan Paul’s personally owned 1998 Japanese CoroCoro Comic Pikachu Illustrator card sold for $16,492,000, setting a new record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
Graded PSA 10, the highest possible condition, Paul’s card is the only known Gem Mint copy of the fabled Pikachu Illustrator. Originally awarded to winners of illustration contests held by CoroCoro Comic in Japan, fewer than 40 copies are believed to exist. It is the only Pokémon card to carry the title “Illustrator,” and has long been considered the hobby’s ultimate prize.
As bidding closed after 41 days, Paul reacted live, saying, “Oh my gosh, this is crazy,” before personally presenting the card to the winning bidder. Ahead of the sale, he reflected on parting with the piece on Instagram, writing, “Goodbye my friend. What a privilege it’s been to be the owner of the greatest collectible in the world.”
Paul acquired the PSA 10 copy in 2021 for approximately $5.27 million, at the time setting a record for a Pokémon card. The new $16.49 million result not only more than tripled his original purchase price but also earned Guinness World Records recognition as the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction.
The card’s rarity, cultural crossover appeal, and singular PSA condition combined to propel bidding into heretofore uncharted territory. The result underscores the continued strength of the high-end Pokémon market and further solidifies the Pikachu Illustrator as the crown jewel of modern trading card collecting.
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