The record for the most expensive trading card ever sold has been shattered with the recent auction of a rare Pikachu Illustrator card, which fetched an astonishing $16,492,000. This landmark sale took place on February 16, conducted by Goldin Auctions based in New Jersey.
The Pikachu Illustrator, which was originally distributed in 1998 as part of a contest run by the manga magazine CoroCoro, features artwork by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu. Only 41 of these cards were ever produced, making it exceedingly rare compared to the staggering 75 billion Pokémon cards printed in 2025 alone. Among the existing cards, this particular one is notable as the only one graded “GEM MT 10” by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a testament to its pristine condition.
Initially, the card was listed for auction on January 6 with a starting bid of $500,000. As the bidding progressed, offers climbed to approximately $6 million before dramatically rising to the final auction price of $13.3 million, to which a 24% buyer’s premium was added. The card was previously owned by influencer Logan Paul, who had purchased it for $4 million in 2021, along with another card valued at nearly $1.3 million, setting the previous record for Pokémon cards.
The sale concluded with Paul transferring the prized card to its new owner, A.J. Scaramucci, a venture capitalist and son of former White House press secretary Anthony Scaramucci, during a livestream event.
Despite recent challenges faced by the Pokémon video game franchise in garnering critical acclaim, this record-breaking transaction highlights the enduring allure and value of physical Pokémon cards. Collectors continue to find excitement in this hobby, which has evolved into a significant market for investment and speculation. This sale marks a hopeful moment for collectors, reinforcing the vibrancy of Pokémon’s legacy in popular culture.