A rare Pokémon card just shattered records, selling for an eye-watering $16.5 million at auction.
The Pikachu Illustrator card, previously owned by YouTuber Logan Paul, became the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
But the sale itself was almost as dramatic as the final price tag.
Bidders engaged in a tense back-and-forth that lasted nearly three hours beyond the original auction close time.
From $5.2 Million to Record-Breaking $16.5 Million
Paul originally purchased this card in 2021 for $5,275,000, making it the most expensive Pokémon card in a private sale at that time.
He acquired it from Marwan Dubsy in Dubai through an interesting trade: another rare PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator card plus $4 million cash.
Only 39 were given out to illustration contest winners in 1998, and this was a purchase for the only one in the world that has been graded a perfect 10.
Wrestling fans may recognize this particular card from Paul’s WrestleMania debut in 2022, where he wore it around his neck while teaming with WWE veteran The Miz.
Three Hours of Nail-Biting Bidding
Online auction house Goldin hosted the sale at their Philadelphia headquarters in New Jersey, with a Guinness World Records Adjudicator present to verify the historic moment.
When the auction’s official close time arrived, bidding had pushed just past $6 million. But extended bidding rules meant any new bid would restart a 30-minute countdown.
What happened next was extraordinary.
Over the following two hours and 44 minutes, frenzied bidding drove the price up dramatically. The winning bid eventually landed at $13.3 million, with the final announced price reaching $16,492,000 after including the buyer’s premium—standard practice for auction houses.
New Owner Receives Card on $75,000 Diamond Necklace
AJ Scaramucci emerged victorious as the card’s new owner.
In a fitting display of extravagance matching the purchase price, Scaramucci received his prize attached to a $75,000 diamond necklace that was placed around his neck at the event’s conclusion.
This sale didn’t just break Pokémon records—it shattered the overall record for most expensive trading card sold at auction across all categories.
Why This Card Commands Such Astronomical Prices
Several factors combine to make the Pikachu Illustrator exceptionally valuable among collectors.
Extreme Rarity
Only 39 copies were ever distributed as prizes in a 1998 illustration contest in Japan. This card was never sold commercially—making it fundamentally different from typical Pokémon cards released for purchase.
Perfect Condition
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grades cards on attributes including edge sharpness, focus quality, and gloss preservation. Their scale runs from 0 to 10, with 10 representing “Gem Mint” condition.
This particular Pikachu Illustrator earned that coveted PSA 10 grade—the only one in existence with perfect grading.
Legendary Design Pedigree
Pikachu Illustrator cards hold special significance because they were designed by Atsuko Nishida of Japan, credited as Pikachu’s original creator.
Owning a card designed by the character’s inventor adds immense historical and cultural value beyond simple rarity.
Trading Cards as Investment Assets
This sale represents the latest milestone in trading cards’ evolution from childhood collectibles to serious investment vehicles.
Paul’s own journey with this card illustrates the potential: purchasing for $5.275 million in 2021 and selling for $16.5 million just a few years later represents more than a 200% return.
High-grade vintage Pokémon cards, particularly those with documented scarcity like contest prizes, have consistently appreciated as wealthy collectors and investors enter the market.
What Makes Auction Records Official
Having a Guinness World Records Adjudicator physically present distinguished this sale from previous record claims.
Private sales, while sometimes reaching high figures, lack the verification and transparency of public auctions. This Goldin auction provided documented proof of authenticity, condition, and final sale price with independent oversight.
The distinction matters: this card now holds verified records for both most expensive Pokémon card at auction and most expensive trading card overall at auction.
Future of Ultra-Rare Collectibles
With only 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards in existence and just one achieving PSA 10 status, future sales seem unlikely to offer another opportunity at this exact prize.
However, the broader collectibles market shows no signs of cooling. As authentication services improve and auction houses develop specialized expertise, expect more record-breaking sales across vintage gaming, sports, and entertainment memorabilia.
For now, Scaramucci owns not just a piece of Pokémon history, but a verified world record—one that came with its own diamond necklace for display.