Logan Paul Sells 1/1 Pikachu Illustrator for $16 MillionRecord-breaking auction sets new high for the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold

Logan Paul has sold his iconic 1/1 Pikachu Illustrator PSA 9 Pokémon card at auction for $16 million — the highest price ever paid for a Pokémon card and one of the largest single-item collectibles sales in history.

The sale caps a remarkable investment journey for the YouTube star, entrepreneur, and WWE performer. Paul originally purchased the card in 2022 for $5.275 million, itself a world record at the time. Over three years, the card's value nearly tripled, generating a profit of approximately $10.7 million on a single collectible.

The Pikachu Illustrator is widely considered the rarest and most valuable Pokémon card in existence. Originally distributed in 1998 as a prize to winners of an illustration contest held in Japan by CoroCoro Comics magazine, only 39 copies were ever produced — with just a handful graded at a high level by PSA.

The card features unique artwork depicting Pikachu drawing other Pokémon, and bears the text "Illustrator" in place of the standard "Trainer" designation. PSA 9 (Mint) specimens are extraordinarily rare, making Logan Paul's copy one of the finest known examples.

Unlike standard Pokémon cards released for competitive play, the Pikachu Illustrator was never sold commercially — its exclusivity derives entirely from its origins as a contest prize, frozen in time from a 1998 Japan-exclusive publication.

Paul famously wore the Pikachu Illustrator card around his neck inside a custom case at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, days after acquiring it. The stunt generated enormous media coverage, bringing mainstream awareness to both his Pokémon collection and the broader collectibles market.

The moment crystallized Paul's unique approach to personal branding: the intersection of internet culture, elite athleticism, and high-value collecting. For many, the WrestleMania appearance was their first introduction to the concept of a single Pokémon card being worth millions of dollars.

The $16 million sale cements the Pikachu Illustrator as a blue-chip asset in the collectibles world, comparable in status to rare sports cards, fine art, and vintage watches. Industry analysts note that Logan Paul's high-profile buying and selling of the card added legitimacy to Pokémon cards as serious investments — a perception shift that has had ripple effects across the entire graded card market.

The identity of the buyer has not been publicly disclosed. Auction insiders describe the level of interest as "extraordinary," with competitive bidding from collectors across North America, Europe, and Asia.