Logan Paul sells his Pikachu Illustrator for over $16 million, making it the most expensive Pokémon card in the world
It’s official: Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator auction closes at a whopping $16,492,000, setting a new world record.
Influencer turned WWE superstar Logan Paul has once again caused an earthquake in the Pokémon universe. The auction for his coveted Pikachu Illustrator card, for which he paid more than $5 million in 2021, has now closed, and the final price was astronomical. Its new owner paid almost $16.5 million, an exorbitant price that has sparked widespread criticism among both Pokémon TCG players and collectors.
Logan Paul sets a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon card in the world after auctioning off his Pikachu Illustrator
On January 6, Logan Paul announced that he was auctioning off his Pikachu Illustrator card, graded PSA 10, which means it is in pristine condition. Paul acquired it in 2021 for $5,275,000, which at the time earned him the Guinness World Record for “Most expensive Pokémon card sold in a private transaction.” However, on February 16, the original figure pales in comparison to the highest bid at the card auction: $16,492,000.
The auction had been active for forty-two days, and the closing period was extended for a few hours in case anyone had the courage—or deep enough pockets—to outbid the highest bidder. “What madness,” Paul commented on a YouTube live stream as soon as the deadline passed. A representative from Guinness World Records appeared on screen to confirm that the influencer had indeed set a new world record for “Most Expensive Trading Card Ever Auctioned.”
However, this move has not been without criticism. Its main detractors claim that moving such large amounts of money for what are essentially children’s playing cards is immoral and completely distorts the spirit of fun and competition, turning something that should be affordable into a prohibitive item in order to create a personal image of excess and exclusivity. On the other side of the fence are those who do not explicitly defend Paul, but do point out that the Pikachu Illustrator was a very limited edition commemorative card—only 39 were created as prizes for a drawing contest, so it was never commercially available—and that it is not just another “Pikachu Illustrator,” but “Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator.”
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Given that he wore it around his neck on a diamond chain—also included in the auction—during his stellar appearance at Wrestlemania 38, it is reasonable to assume that it could have increased in value due to the media coverage: for many, it is no longer a “simple” Pokémon card, but an item of clothing or accessory that a WWE superstar wore during one of his most iconic appearances. For this reason, some believe that, beyond the obvious financial benefit, the auction’s ultimate purpose was to enhance his personal brand.
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