In a historic moment for the world of rare collectibles, social media star, entrepreneur and WWE personality Logan Paul has sold one of the most coveted Pokémon cards ever for an eye‑watering $16.49 million (about RM64.5 million) — making it the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.

The record‑setting sale took place at a high‑profile Goldin Auctions event, where Paul’s ultra‑rare Pikachu Illustrator card — graded PSA 10, the highest possible condition — captured the attention of collectors and investors around the globe.

🃏 What Is the Pikachu Illustrator Card?

The Pikachu Illustrator card is widely regarded as the holy grail of Pokémon trading cards. Originally produced in 1998 as a prize for winners of a Japanese illustration contest run by CoroCoro Comic, it was never sold in regular card packs. Only about 39 copies are believed to exist, and even fewer have survived in pristine condition.

What makes Paul’s card extra special is its PSA 10 “Gem Mint” grade, meaning it’s in virtually perfect condition — the only known copy with that grade, which helped push its value into record territory.

💸 The Record Auction Sale

After an intense bidding period that lasted over 40 days, the auction finally closed with the Pikachu Illustrator card selling for $16,492,000 — a price that officially shattered every previous record for a trading card sold at auction.

The winning bidder was AJ Scaramucci, a venture capitalist and son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who now owns what many collectors consider the crown jewel of Pokémon cards.

The sale was also verified by Guinness World Records as the highest price ever paid for a trading card at auction — overtaking all prior benchmarks in the collectibles world.

🔄 From $5.27M Purchase to $16.49M Sale

Paul’s involvement with the card began in 2021, when he acquired the Pikachu Illustrator for roughly $5.27 million — a then‑record private sale for a Pokémon card.

Since then, the card became more than just a collectible: Paul famously flew it into the spotlight, wearing it encased in a diamond‑studded necklace during major live events — including WrestleMania 38 — and featuring it on social media and in televised appearances.

By selling it for around three times his original investment, Paul not only made a massive financial gain but also highlighted the booming market for high‑end collectibles and the cultural crossover between nostalgia and modern investing.

📈 Why the Sale Is Such a Big Deal

This milestone auction reflects several broader trends in the world of collectibles:

📌 Pokémon Cards as Blue‑Chip Assets: Rare Pokémon cards have evolved from nostalgic playthings into serious alternative investments, attracting collectors, speculators and big‑name investors alike.

📌 Cultural Mainstreaming: Paul’s public display and marketing of the card helped bring what had once been a niche hobby into the mainstream — inspiring a new generation to pay attention to card collecting as an asset class.

📌 Scarcity + Condition Drive Value: The combination of extreme rarity and perfect condition — especially a PSA 10 grading — can dramatically escalate a card’s market value, often pushing prices into the multimillion‑dollar range.

🧠 What Makes the Pikachu Illustrator Special

Unlike standard Pokémon cards found in store packs, the Pikachu Illustrator was awarded exclusively to winners of an early Pokémon art contest. Its design features Pikachu holding art tools — a unique motif not seen on other official cards — and the card even has “Illustrator” printed on the top instead of the usual card type label.

Collectors consider it the ultimate Pokémon TCG trophy, and because so few were produced and so few survived in top condition, the PSA Gem Mint example that Paul owned was especially prized.

🤝 Who Bought the Card?

The winning bidder, AJ Scaramucci, has been identified as a venture capitalist with an interest in high‑end collectibles. His acquisition underscores how such rare items are increasingly seen not just as pop culture relics, but as assets that can appreciate significantly over time.

Scaramucci is reportedly building what he calls a “planetary treasure hunt” of culturally significant artifacts — hinting that this Pokémon card will be just the beginning of an ambitious collection.

📍 Final Takeaway

Logan Paul’s sale of the Pikachu Illustrator card for $16.49 million isn’t just another headline — it’s a defining moment for the collectibles market, blending pop culture, investment dynamics and global attention in unprecedented ways.

Whether you’re a die‑hard Pokémon fan, a seasoned collector, or someone who follows the quirky side of modern investing, this record‑breaking auction proves one thing: rare Pokémon cards have gone from trading game pieces to true blue‑chip collectibles — and their value shows no sign of fading.