Logan Paul’s ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card just sold for a jaw-dropping $16.5 million at auction

In the world of collectibles, things just levelled up in a very expensive way.

Logan Paul’s ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card just sold for a jaw-dropping $16.5 million at auction, officially making it the most expensive trading card ever sold.

Yes, ever. Sports cards included. Somewhere, every Canadian who kept a shoebox of Pokémon cards in their parents’ basement just felt a disturbance in the force.

The wrestling star and internet personality originally bought the card back in 2021 for $5.275 million, which was already a record at the time.

Instead of quietly storing it away like a normal collector, Paul leaned all the way in. He had the card mounted in a custom case, turned it into a diamond-studded necklace, and actually wore it to WrestleMania in 2022. Casual.

After 41 days of bidding through Goldin Auctions, the card finally sold on Monday, with Guinness World Records on hand to confirm the historic price. It’s now officially the highest amount ever paid for any trading card, not just Pokémon.

Paul reacted live as the final bid landed, then placed the card around the neck of the winning bidder, venture capitalist A.J. Scaramucci, during the livestream.

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Imagine dropping eight figures on a piece of cardboard and immediately wearing it like jewellery. That’s a confidence level most of us only reach after two glasses of wine.

The Pikachu Illustrator card is considered the “holy grail” for Pokémon collectors. It was created by artist Atsuko Nishida for a 1998 illustration contest, and only a few dozen are believed to exist.

Paul’s copy is especially rare, holding a pristine grade of 10, which in collector language basically means flawless.

And now, somewhere across Canada, millennials are texting siblings asking one very important question:
“Did Mom throw out my Pokémon cards… or am I secretly sitting on a retirement plan?”