Logan Paul’s Pokémon Illustrator Card Sells for Record $16.59 Million, Sets Guinness World Record [WATCH]

Logan Paul has sold his ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for a record-breaking $16.59 million at auction, setting a new mark for the highest-selling trading card ever recorded, as reported by Gamespot.

The WWE wrestler and YouTuber originally purchased the card in 2021 for $5.275 million, which at the time broke the standing record for a trading card sale.

Paul later wore the card, encased in a custom holder and chain, during his 2022 WrestleMania debut.

BREAKING : Logan Paul’s legendary 10 Pikachu Illustrator just broke the record for most expensive trading card ever sold!

$13 Million Dollars! pic.twitter.com/HIa5yg1A3N

— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) February 16, 2026

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The card was placed up for auction in January, with Paul initially asking for $1.3 million. He stated that he would hand-deliver the card to the auction winner. The online auction house Goldin handled the bidding process.

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Bidding quickly climbed to $4.5 million during the first week of the auction.

By January 14, the price had reached $5.1 million. In the final 24 hours before the auction closed, dozens of bids were submitted, driving the price up to $13.3 million. With a 24% buyer’s fee added, the total sale price reached $16.59 million.

A Guinness World Record Adjudicator was present to verify that the sale set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a trading card.

The buyer was AJ Scaramucci, a venture capitalist with the firm Solari Capital. Scaramucci attended the final bidding session. After the auction concluded, Paul placed the card around his neck.

The Pikachu Illustrator card was never sold in retail stores. It was awarded as a prize during a 1998 illustration contest.

Logan Paul’s World-Record-Holding Pokemon Pikachu Illustrator now up to $15.1M!!! Now officially the most valuable trading card of all time. This thing is worth more than a 1 of a kind Kobe Bryant / Michael Jordan signed card… pic.twitter.com/GjhKoZ4be7

— Adam Oney (@oneystar) February 16, 2026

The card features artwork by Atsuko Nishida, Pikachu’s original creator. Only 39 copies were printed for the winners of the contest.

Of those 39, this specific card is the only example graded a “10” by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), indicating it is in “gem mint” condition.

The sale highlights the continued demand for rare Pokémon memorabilia.

Pokémon cards have become a significant segment of the collectibles market in recent years and have even been linked to armed robberies as their value has increased.

Paul’s sale not only delivered a substantial return on his original $5.275 million purchase but also reset the market for high-end trading cards.

Congratulations to @LoganPaul and the team at @GoldinCo on a historic night pic.twitter.com/0vpWfzYw9s

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 16, 2026

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