A Pikachu Illustrator card, rated a 10 by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), owned by influencer and professional wrestler Logan Paul, has sold at auction for nearly $16.5 million, setting a new world record.
The historic sale was conducted by auction house Goldin, and a representative from Guinness World Records was present to officially confirm that it was the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction. It also broke the record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
Paul purchased this extremely rare card in 2021 in a then-record private sale for just over $5 million. He acquired it after exchanging a PSA 9 copy of the same card and an additional $4 million with collector Marwan Dabsi in Dubai.
It is the only copy in the world to receive a perfect score of 10 from the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), which rates cards on a scale of 0 to 10, taking into account the condition of the edges, sharpness of the print, and original shine.
“Only 39 copies were given to the winners of the 1998 illustration competition, and this is the only one that received a perfect ten,” Paul stated upon purchase.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was never sold in the regular market. It was issued exclusively as a prize in an illustration contest held in Japan in 1998. It was designed by Atsuko Nishida, an illustrator who is considered the original creator of the Pikachu character, which further increases its value among collectors.
The card became known to a wider audience when Paul wore it around his neck on a chain during his debut at the 2022 WrestleMania spectacle.
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