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Logan Paul’s PSA Gem Mint 10 Pikachu Illustrator sold through Goldin Auctions for $16,492,000 on February 16, 2026. The announced total includes the buyer’s premium; Guinness World Records recognizes the auction as both the most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at auction and the most expensive trading card sold at auction overall.
How much did Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator sell for?
The final reported price was $16,492,000, including buyer’s premium, according to Guinness World Records. The winning bid before that premium was reported as $13.3 million. The Associated Press rounded the result to $16.5 million.
Those figures describe different parts of the same auction result: $13.3 million was the bid, while $16.492 million was the announced total with the buyer’s premium included. Goldin Auctions handled the sale.
What record did the card set?
Guinness World Records lists the February 16, 2026 auction as the record sale for both a Pokémon trading card and a trading card overall. The category matters: the record concerns a card sold at auction, not every kind of card transaction.
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Paul’s earlier acquisition is a separate transaction. Guinness reports that he bought the card privately in 2021 for $5,275,000. That was a private-sale figure, not the 2026 auction result.
Why is the Pikachu Illustrator card so rare?
The Pikachu Illustrator was not a card sold in ordinary retail booster packs. It was designed by Atsuko Nishida and awarded as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest. Guinness says 39 copies were given to contest winners. The card’s contest origin makes it scarce; it is distinct from the condition and grade of any individual copy.
Rank #2
- Pokemon TCG : 100 CARD LOT RARE, COMMON, UNC, HOLO OR FULL ART
- AMAZING GIFT FOR KIDS! ULTRA RARE & HOLO RARES
- Each lot includes a great assortment cards from the Pokemon Trading Card Game
- Cards are Near Mint Mint condition and English!
Guinness describes Paul’s copy as the only known Pikachu Illustrator graded PSA Gem Mint 10. That is a grading claim about this particular card, not a claim that only one Illustrator card exists. PSA’s scale runs from 0 to 10, with 10 designated Gem Mint. A top grade describes condition; it does not guarantee a future sale price.
How did Logan Paul acquire it?
Guinness reports that Paul acquired the card in 2021 through a deal valued at $5,275,000: he traded a PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator valued at $1.275 million and added $4 million in cash. The 2021 date is also reported by the AP; an earlier Guinness preview had stated 2022.
Rank #3
Paul later wore the card at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. After the Goldin auction, the winning bidder, A.J. Scaramucci, received it attached to a diamond necklace reported by Guinness to be worth $75,000.
Who bought the card, and how long did bidding last?
The buyer was A.J. Scaramucci, whom the AP described as a venture capitalist and the son of Anthony Scaramucci. The AP reported that the bidding period lasted 41 days. Guinness adjudicator Sarah Casson was present at the close to confirm the record.
Rank #4
- 5 Assorted VSTAR/VMAX Pokemon cards
- Will receive 2 VMAX Full Art Etched Pokemon Cards
- Will receive 2 VSTAR Full Art Etched Pokemon Cards
- Will receive 1 VMAX or VSTAR Secret Rare (Rainbow or Gold) Pokemon Card
- No Duplicates! Will receive 5 different cards!
For the auction’s exact total, Guinness’s record page gives $16,492,000 and the equivalent of £12,074,206. Guinness states that the total includes the buyer’s premium.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the sale does—and does not—say about card values
This was an exceptional auction for a rare contest prize with a distinctive grading claim. One record-setting sale does not establish a market-wide value for Pokémon cards, or show that a particular card grade will produce a similar result. The documented figure is the completed auction total for this specific card, not a current listing or an estimate for other collectibles.
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