Logan Paul has sold an exceptionally rare Pokémon card for $16.5 million, setting a new record in the collectibles market, according to the auction house that handled the transaction.
The YouTuber and wrestler purchased the Pikachu Illustrator card in 2021 for $5.3 million, which was then the highest price ever paid for a Pokémon card. It is the best-preserved copy of one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever released, according to the BBC.
According to Goldin, the card sold for $16.49 million, including the buyer’s premium. The winning bidder was venture capital investor AJ Scaramucci, son of financier and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci. AJ Scaramucci said the purchase marks the first step in what he described as a global “treasure hunt.”
Logan Paul called the auction result “absolutely insane” during a live YouTube broadcast. A representative of Guinness World Records, Sarah Kason, later appeared to confirm that this is the most expensive card ever sold at auction.
Paul also included in the deal the diamond-encrusted necklace he wore with the card around his neck during his first appearance at WWE WrestleMania 38 in 2022, which was passed on to Scaramucci.
The Pikachu Illustrator cards were issued in 1998 as part of a competition, and it is estimated that only around 40 copies exist. This particular card is the only one to have received a grade of 10 from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), which evaluates the condition of collectible cards—placing it in the “near perfect” category.
“I’m not a reseller, I’m a collector,” Paul said. “But honestly, the liquidity will be useful. I’m good at making money. I’m better at spending it.”
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