In mid-February 2026, the collectibles world reached a historic milestone as Logan Paul officially sold his PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card for a staggering $16.492 million. The transaction, finalized via Goldin Auctions on Monday, February 16, 2026, shattered his own previous record for the most expensive trading card ever sold.
The buyer was identified as AJ Scaramucci, a venture capitalist and son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who purchased the card as part of a mission to “collect the uncollectable.”
The Sale Breakdown: From $5.2M to $16.5M
Logan Paul’s journey with the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon cards has seen an unprecedented return on investment in less than five years.
Purchase History: Paul acquired the card in July 2021 through a private trade valued at $5.275 million (exchanging a PSA 9 version plus $4 million in cash). This set the original Guinness World Record for a private sale.
The 2026 Auction: The card was put up for public auction in January 2026. After 42 days and 97 bids, the final “hammer price” reached $13.3 million, totaling $16,492,000 after the 24% buyer’s premium.
The “Total Package”: The sale included the custom, diamond-encrusted necklace and case Paul famously wore during his WrestleMania 38 debut.
Record Verification: A Guinness World Records official was present during the livestreamed finale to certify the sale as the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
Why This Card?
The Pikachu Illustrator is widely considered the most valuable card in the TCG (Trading Card Game) universe.
Extreme Rarity: Only 39 copies were ever produced, given as prizes to winners of the 1998 CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest in Japan.
The Only “10”: While roughly 20 copies have been graded by PSA, Logan Paul’s copy is the only one in the world to receive a perfect Gem Mint 10 rating.
Cultural Iconography: Designed by Atsuko Nishida (the original creator of Pikachu), the card captures the earliest creative roots of the global franchise.
