NEW YORK — Social media personality and professional wrestler Logan Paul has set a new global record in the collectibles world after selling his rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for $16.5 million at auction.
The sale took place Monday at Goldin Auctions following 41 days of competitive bidding. Paul had originally purchased the card in 2021 for $5.275 million, which at the time was the highest recorded price for a Pokémon card. Since then, the card, often called the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon collectibles, had gained additional fame after Paul displayed it at WrestleMania 38 in 2022 inside a custom case adorned with a diamond necklace.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Sarah Casson confirmed during the auction’s livestream on YouTube that the $16.5 million sale set not only a new record for a Pokémon card, but also 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, a venture capitalist and son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally designed by Atsuko Nishida in 1998 for a Japanese illustration contest. Only a few dozen copies are known to exist, and Paul’s card is believed to be the only one with a perfect quality rating of 10. Its sale further cements the card’s status as the most sought-after item among Pokémon collectors worldwide.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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