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A PSA Grade 7 Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sold for $900,000 at Goldin Auctions on 23 February 2022. It was a record-setting auction at the time, but it is no longer the most expensive Pokémon card sale on record: Guinness World Records lists a separate Pikachu Illustrator auction at $16,492,000 in February 2026, including buyer’s premium.
How much did the Pikachu Illustrator card sell for?
The card behind the nearly $1 million headline was a Pikachu Illustrator graded PSA 7. Guinness World Records reported that it fetched $900,000 at Goldin Auctions on 23 February 2022. That figure describes the auction sale; it is not the same transaction as Logan Paul’s widely reported $5.275 million acquisition the year before.
Why was the Pikachu Illustrator card so rare?
Pikachu Illustrator cards were awarded to winners of a 1998 illustration contest. Guinness’s 2022 account reported that 39 cards were given out. The Associated Press described only a few dozen as believed to exist and reported that the card was designed by Atsuko Nishida.
Scarcity alone does not explain the sale price. The specific card’s condition and grade matter, too, and the $900,000 result should not be treated as a standard price for other Pikachu Illustrator cards.
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How does the $900,000 sale compare with the other record-setting transactions?
| Transaction | Sale type and date | Card and grade | Reported amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldin Auctions sale reported by Guinness in 2022 | Auction, 23 February 2022 | Pikachu Illustrator, PSA 7 | $900,000 |
| Logan Paul transaction reported by Guinness in 2022 | Private trade, 22 July 2021 | Paul traded a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator, valued at $1,275,000, plus $4,000,000 for a PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator | $5,275,000 stated value for the acquisition |
| Goldin Auctions sale listed by Guinness in 2026 | Auction, 16 February 2026 | Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator, PSA Gem Mint 10 | $16,492,000, including buyer’s premium |
The figures are not direct like-for-like comparisons: one is a PSA 7 auction, one is a private trade involving two cards and cash, and the 2026 auction involved a PSA Gem Mint 10. They do not establish a simple formula for how much a higher grade adds to a card’s value.
What does the PSA grade tell you?
In its 2022 account, Guinness described PSA 9 as near perfect while allowing for minor flaws such as a slight wax stain, printing imperfection, or slightly off-white borders. It described PSA 10 as virtually perfect, with four sharp corners, sharp focus, and original gloss. These descriptions help explain why condition is relevant, but a grade is not a guarantee of market value.
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Is the $900,000 sale still the record?
No. Guinness World Records currently lists the 16 February 2026 Goldin Auctions sale of Paul’s PSA Gem Mint 10 Pikachu Illustrator at $16,492,000, including buyer’s premium. That is the listed auction record, while Paul’s $5.275 million 2021 acquisition was a private trade. Record claims should therefore name the sale type and date rather than treating every reported transaction as the same kind of sale.
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