WWE star and YouTube personality Logan Paul has officially sold his ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator card for a staggering $16.5 million, setting a new record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
The card, one of the rarest Pokémon collectibles in existence, had been listed for auction just a month earlier. After 42 days of bidding, the final price reached approximately $16.492 million, along with a diamond-encrusted necklace included as part of the deal.
Record-breaking sale confirmed by Guinness World Records
The auction concluded on February 16, 2026, after extended bidding pushed the final price well beyond its initial estimates. The sale was originally scheduled to end a day earlier, but last-minute offers kept the process alive.
During a livestream hosted by Paul, a Guinness World Records official confirmed that the transaction set a new global record for the highest price ever paid for a trading card at auction.
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The Pikachu Illustrator card is graded PSA 10, the highest possible condition rating, and is widely considered the most valuable Pokémon card ever produced.
Rare Pokémon card delivers massive profit for Logan Paul
Paul originally purchased the card five years ago for $5.275 million, making headlines at the time as one of the most expensive Pokémon purchases in history. With the new sale price, the WWE star is believed to have made nearly $8 million in profit after accounting for auction fees.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was created for a Pokémon illustration contest in Japan in the late 1990s. Only around 39 copies are believed to exist, making it one of the rarest promotional cards ever distributed.
Iconic card linked to Logan Paul’s WWE debut
The collectible became a signature part of Paul’s public persona when he wore it around his neck inside a custom diamond-encrusted case. The necklace was valued at roughly $75,000 and was included as part of the recent sale.
Paul famously wore the card during his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38, where he teamed with The Miz in a tag team match against Rey and Dominik Mysterio at AT&T Stadium.
My heart sank when I dropped it 😓 the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator aka the rarest and most valuable Pokemon card in the world is officially up for auction.
Bidding is now open on Goldin Auctions
In 1998, only 39 copies of this card — designed by Atsuko Nishida, the original… pic.twitter.com/jTDN31CGHr
— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 6, 2026
From viral purchase to historic auction
The sale marks the latest chapter in the card’s unusual journey from a niche promotional item in Japan to one of the most expensive collectibles in sports and pop culture. Paul’s original purchase helped push Pokémon cards back into the mainstream spotlight, and the record-setting resale cements the Pikachu Illustrator’s status as one of the most valuable trading cards ever.
