Logan Paul's Pikachu Illustrator Card Breaks World Record at $16.5 Million

The rare Pokémon card becomes the most expensive trading card ever sold.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a historic auction, Logan Paul's PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sold for $16,492,000, shattering the previous world record for the most expensive trading card ever sold. The 'Holy Grail' of Pokémon cards, one of only 39 ever awarded, was acquired by venture capitalist A.J. Scaramucci, who plans to use it as the first piece in a 'planetary treasure hunt' to acquire the world's most significant cultural artifacts.

Why it matters

The sale of the Pikachu Illustrator card for over $16 million signals a shift in the collectibles market, where rare and iconic items from the world of entertainment and pop culture are now rivaling or even surpassing the value of traditional sports memorabilia. This highlights the growing influence and spending power of a new generation of collectors focused on acquiring 'blue-chip' cultural assets.

The details

The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally distributed in 1998 as a prize for a CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan, with only 39 official copies awarded. The specific card sold is the only known copy to achieve a perfect GEM MT 10 grade from PSA. Logan Paul acquired the card in a private transaction in Dubai in 2021 for $5.275 million, earning him a Guinness World Record. He then turned the card into an icon, wearing it in a custom diamond-encrusted pendant during his WWE debut and at a boxing match.

  • The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally distributed in 1998.
  • Logan Paul acquired the card in a private transaction in Dubai in July 2021.
  • Logan Paul wore the card in a custom pendant at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
  • Logan Paul wore the card in a custom pendant at the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight in Miami in December 2025.
  • The card was sold at auction on February 15, 2026.

The players

Logan Paul

A YouTuber and professional wrestler who originally acquired the Pikachu Illustrator card in 2021.

A.J. Scaramucci

A venture capitalist and the son of financier and former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, who purchased the Pikachu Illustrator card for a record $16.49 million.

Goldin

The auction house that facilitated the record-breaking sale of the Pikachu Illustrator card.

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What they’re saying

“To be one of the Holy Grails of the collectibles industry, a card needs to embody certain indelible qualities. This incomparable Pikachu Illustrator fits this description to a 't'.”

— Goldin (Goldin)

“My ambition for the card is just a small story. The real story is that I'm on a planetary treasure hunt. I'm planning to buy a T-Rex dinosaur fossil, the Declaration of Independence, and I'm not stopping there. This is only the beginning.”

— A.J. Scaramucci, Founder, Solari Capital (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Scaramucci plans to use the Pikachu Illustrator card as the first piece in a larger strategy to acquire the world's most significant cultural artifacts through his new company, Treasure Trove.

The takeaway

The record-breaking sale of the Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for over $16 million signals a shift in the collectibles market, where rare and iconic items from the world of entertainment and pop culture are now rivaling or even surpassing the value of traditional sports memorabilia, highlighting the growing influence and spending power of a new generation of collectors focused on acquiring 'blue-chip' cultural assets.