Social media star and professional wrestler Logan Paul has set a new world record with the auction sale of his rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card.
The card, considered a “Holy Grail” among collectors, sold for $16.5 million on Monday at Goldin Auctions after 41 days of bidding. Paul originally purchased the card in 2021 for $5.275 million, which at the time set a Guinness World Record for the highest price paid for a Pokémon card.
Paul had previously customised the card with a diamond necklace and a protective case, and even wore it publicly during WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson confirmed the final auction price, livestreamed on YouTube, as a record not only for a Pokémon card but for any trading card sold at auction.
“Oh my gosh, this is crazy,” Paul said as he placed the card around the neck of the winning bidder, A.J. Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally designed by Atsuko Nishida for a 1998 contest. Only a few dozen copies are believed to exist, and Paul’s card is thought to be the only one with a perfect quality rating of 10.
This sale has further cemented Paul’s influence in the collectables market, blending celebrity culture with the booming trading card industry.
