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Logan Paul’s PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card, considered the rarest and most pristine example of this highly sought-after promo card, sold for $16,492,000 at Goldin Auctions today. The card, originally distributed in limited quantities in 1998 through winners of a CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan and featuring artwork by Pikachu’s designer Atsuko Nishida, was auctioned after a 41-day bidding period that included an extended phase with heavy last-minute activity. The final price consisted of a $13.3 million hammer price plus a 24% buyer’s premium, setting a new world record for the most expensive trading card ever sold. Paul originally acquired the card in July 2021 for $5.275 million in a private deal that included cash and a trade for a PSA 9 copy, which at the time established a Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon card. The auction lot included a custom diamond-encrusted necklace and case that Paul wore during his WrestleMania 38 appearance, with the winner receiving personal hand-delivery from Paul himself. The sale more than tripled his investment and highlighted the surging market for ultra-rare Pokémon collectibles.