On February 16, 2026, the world of trading cards witnessed a historic moment. American YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul sold his Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 card for the staggering sum of $16.5 million at an auction held by Goldin Auctions. This price shatters all previous records and establishes the Pikachu Illustrator as the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction, across all categories.
This sale comes just days before Pokémon's 30th anniversary, celebrated on February 27, 2026. It cements the Pikachu Illustrator card as the ultimate Holy Grail of the Pokemon card universe and illustrates the maturity of a market that now attracts top-tier investors.
What Is the Pikachu Illustrator Card?
The Pikachu Illustrator is no ordinary card. It is the only Pokemon card in the world to bear the title "Illustrator" instead of the traditional "Trainer." It holds a unique place in the history of the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
The origin: the 1997-1998 CoroCoro contests
Between late 1997 and summer 1998, the Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic organized three illustration contests inviting young readers to draw their own Pokemon card. Entries were judged on the originality of the illustration and the creativity of the imagined attacks.
Winners of each contest received a copy of this card as a prize. For the first contest, three "Grand Prix" winners received 20 copies of the card illustrated with their own drawing, plus one copy of the Pikachu Illustrator. Twenty other "Excellence Prize" winners each received one copy. The two subsequent contests, tied to the films Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pikachu's Vacation, distributed additional copies to the winners.
In total, only 39 copies of the Pikachu Illustrator card were officially distributed. This extremely limited print run is what makes it one of the rarest cards ever created.
A card illustrated by Pikachu's creator
The card's illustration was created by Atsuko Nishida, the original designer of Pikachu at Game Freak. It depicts Pikachu holding a paintbrush, surrounded by stars, in the act of painting. The Japanese text can be translated as: "In the Pokemon Card Game Illustration Contest, your illustration was recognized as outstanding. We hereby confer upon you the title of Official Pokemon Card Game Illustrator and offer our congratulations."
The card also features a unique detail: a small pen icon in the bottom-right corner, found on no other Pokemon card. It is truly a one-of-a-kind piece in the TCG universe.
Sales History of the Pikachu Illustrator
The price trajectory of this card is a condensed history of the Pokemon card market explosion. Each landmark sale has pushed the boundaries of what the world thought possible for a trading card.
| Year | Grade | Sale Price | Auction House |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | PSA 9 | $54,970 | Heritage Auctions |
| 2021 | PSA 7 | $900,000 | Goldin |
| 2021 | PSA 10 | $5,275,000 | Private Transaction (Logan Paul) |
| 2023 | PSA 8 | $480,000 | Auction |
| 2026 | PSA 10 | $16,492,000 | Goldin Auctions |
In ten years, the value of a PSA 9 copy has multiplied by more than 15. And the unique PSA 10 has seen its value triple in under five years, rising from $5.3 to $16.5 million. To put this number in perspective, it is more expensive than a luxury apartment on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Details of the Record Auction at Goldin
The auction was listed at Goldin Auctions on January 12, 2026, with an initial estimate between $7 and $12 million. The auction lasted 41 days and received 97 bids in total.
The final battle was particularly intense. In the closing hours, a series of last-minute bids drove the price up dramatically, triggering successive extensions. The hammer price settled at $13.3 million, to which Goldin's 24% buyer's premium was added, for a total of $16,492,000.
The buyer: AJ Scaramucci
The winning bidder is AJ Scaramucci, son of businessman Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director. During the card handover from Logan Paul, Scaramucci said he was on a "planetary treasure hunt," with ambitions to acquire other exceptional items such as a T-Rex fossil or a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Logan Paul's profit
Logan Paul had acquired this card in July 2021 for $5.275 million as part of a trade that included a Pikachu Illustrator PSA 9 (valued at $1.275 million) and $4 million in cash. With this sale, he realizes an estimated profit of over $8 million after deducting the auction house fees. The Guinness World Records certified the transaction as both the most expensive trading card and the most expensive Pokemon card ever sold at auction.
PSA Population: Absolute Rarity
To understand why this card reaches such heights, one must examine the PSA population reports. Of the 39 officially distributed copies, here is the breakdown of cards submitted for grading:
| PSA Grade | Population | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 (Gem Mint) | 1 copy | $16,492,000 |
| PSA 9 (Mint) | 15 copies | ~$840,000 |
| PSA 8 (NM-MT) | 12 copies | ~$480,000 |
| PSA 7 (NM) | 6 copies | ~$375,000 |
| PSA 6 and below | 5 copies | $150,000 - $250,000 |
| Authenticated (no grade) | 8 copies | Variable |
The fact that only one PSA 10 copy exists in the entire world alone explains the stratospheric price. It is the ultimate convergence of absolute rarity, global demand, and cultural prestige. To better understand the importance of PSA grades on a card's value, check out our PSA vs CGC comparison.
What This Sale Means for the Market
Legitimizing an asset class
At $16.5 million, the Pikachu Illustrator now surpasses the records of many traditional collectible categories. This sale sends a clear signal: Pokemon cards are no longer a niche hobby, but a fully-fledged alternative investment market, capable of competing with contemporary art, luxury watches, or collector cars.
According to market data, the overall value of Pokemon cards has grown by over 830% between March 2020 and October 2025, five times more than the S&P 500 over the same period. While past performance does not guarantee future returns, it illustrates the potential of this asset class. For a deeper dive, check out our guide to investing in Pokemon cards in 2026.
Perfect timing: Pokemon's 30th anniversary
This record sale is no coincidence in terms of timing. It comes just days before February 27, 2026, the 30th anniversary of the first Pokemon games released in Japan. The franchise is celebrating this milestone with a series of major events: the Pokemon Day 2026 box set, the Transcendent Heroes expansion (Mega Evolution), and the continued success of Pokemon Legends: Z-A which has revived nostalgia for Mega Evolutions.
This convergence of nostalgia, current events, and record prices creates an exceptionally favorable environment for the vintage card market.
Impact on other vintage cards
Historically, each record sale of the Pikachu Illustrator has had a ripple effect on the entire market. Logan Paul's $5.3 million sale in 2021 preceded a widespread increase in vintage card prices. In December 2025, a Charizard Shadowless PSA 10 sold for $550,000 at Heritage Auctions, a new record for that card. To track price trends, check out our comprehensive Charizard price analysis.
Top 5 Most Expensive Pokemon Cards (February 2026)
- Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 -- $16,492,000 (2026)
- Charizard Topsun Blue Back -- $493,230 (2023)
- Charizard Shadowless PSA 10 -- $550,000 (2025)
- Trophy Pikachu No. 2 Silver -- $440,000 (2023)
- Presentation Blastoise Galaxy Star Holo -- $360,000 (2023)
The staggering gap between the Pikachu Illustrator and the other cards on the list (a factor of 30) illustrates this card's absolutely unique status in the Pokemon universe.
How to Protect and Authenticate Your Valuable Cards
If this record sale inspires you to examine your own collection, a few fundamental principles apply. Any card of significant value should be submitted for professional certification (PSA, CGC, or Beckett) to guarantee its authenticity and preserve its condition. Our Pokemon card conservation guide details best storage practices.
For vintage cards, vigilance against counterfeits is essential. The verification methods described in our authentication guide will help you avoid the most common pitfalls. And don't forget: some imperfections are not fakes but misprint cards that can also hold significant value.