American professional wrestler and social media influencer Logan Paul has set a new benchmark in collectibles by selling his prized Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for $16.492 million, complete with a custom diamond-encrusted necklace.
Five years ago, Paul purchased the ultra-rare card for $5.275 million, establishing a world record that he has now surpassed with over $8 million in profit after fees from the Goldin auction, which concluded Monday after 42 days and extended bidding.
Paul celebrated live with confetti, joking that the marathon bidding “tired someone out,” while describing the result as “absolutely insane.” Guinness World Records confirmed it as the most expensive trading card sold at auction.
Only 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards exist, produced in the late 1990s for a Pokémon illustration contest, with Paul’s copy boasting a perfect PSA Grade 10—the sole one at that level among just 20 graded, eight of which are Grade 9.
Encased in the necklace he wore at WrestleMania 38, Paul promised personal delivery to the buyer; he originally acquired it in 2021 by trading a Grade 9 version worth $1.275 million plus $4 million cash.
The Pokémon franchise stands as the world’s highest-grossing media brand, outpacing Disney and Star Wars, with card values soaring over two decades—often exceeding sports cards and the S&P 500.
Known for bold investments in NFTs and memorabilia, Paul bid farewell on Instagram, hailing it as “the greatest collectible in the world.”
Ravenewsonline notes the booming trading card market amid global collector enthusiasm.
