Logan Paul's Charizard Pokemon Card Sells for a Record-Breaking $16.49 Million, Setting a New World Record for the Most Expensive Trading Card

On February 16, American top streamer Logan Paul’s PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card—widely hailed as the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon collecting—sold at Goldin Auctions early that morning for a total closing price of $16,492,000, setting multiple historical records. The card’s final hammer price was $13.3 million; after a 24% buyer’s premium, the total reached $16.492 million—more than three times the $5.275 million Paul paid when he acquired it in 2021. It also broke a Guinness World Record for the most expensive single trading card ever sold at auction, topping the previous record in the sports card category. The card traces back to a 1998 Pokémon illustration contest hosted by Japanese magazine *CoroCoro Comic*. Only 39–41 copies were awarded, and none were ever sold to the public. Hand-drawn by Pikachu’s original designer, Atsuko Nishida, and marked with the exclusive “Illustrator” inscription, Paul’s copy is the **only known PSA 10-perfect graded sample in existence** (a “Pop 1” rarity) and is called the “Mona Lisa of the Pokémon world.” The 41-day auction featured several dramatic bidding back-and-forths. In the final extended phase, an intense war saw 97 total bids. Paul was on-site, handing the card to the new buyer along with the diamond-encrusted necklace he wore at WrestleMania 38. He also live-unboxed other vintage cards for entertainment. The new buyer is reportedly AJ Scaramucci—founder of venture capital fund Solari Capital and son of former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci.