Most Expensive Pokémon Card Of All Time Sells For Over $16 Million

3 weeks ago 18

Pokemon Pikachu smiling and holding up a bronze trophy

Published Feb 16, 2026, 12:42 PM EST

Kyle Gratton is an editor and writer based out of Kansas City. He received a bachelor's degree, dual majoring in English and History with a minor in Film and Media Studies, and has been a senior staff writer and reviewer for Screen Rant's Gaming section since 2021, with roles in editorial, and various freelance projects.

A terminal Midwesterner who graduated from the University of Kansas, Kyle also has knowledge and interest in literature, film, film adaptions of literature, and history.

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A new record has been set for the most expensive Pokémon TCG card of all time. Bidding has just closed on the most expensive Pokémon card ever auctioned, with its final sale price exceeding $16 million. The auction happened to be during Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations, and even months ago was expected to set a new record.

The Pikachu Illustrator card put up for auction by influencer and wrestler Logan Paul, the only Pikachu Illustrator to have received a grade of 10 from PSA, has been purchased for $16,492,000, per a press release regarding the Goldin auction. This sets a record for the most expensive trading card ever sold. The card has now officially turned a profit for Paul, who purchased the card in 2022 for $5.3 million.

Pikachu Illustrator Card Closes At $16.4 Million

Close-up on a Pikachu Illustrator card, with its artwork blown up and blurred in the background.

The Pikachu Illustrator auction began just after the start of the year, with bids breaking one million dollars in under a day. Paul's original purchase price was not exceeded until two days ago, though, on February 14. Since then, the bidding amount nearly tripled to a final price of $13,300,000—a 24% buyer's premium is attached to the sale, bringing the final price up to the full $16,492,000. This same card held the previous record for most expensive Pokémon card, but its profile was massively increased by Paul wearing it during Wrestlemania and by it being heavily featured in the King of Collectibles Netflix series.

Pikachu Illustrator cards are already exceedingly rare. They originated as prizes for winning an illustration contest in Japan in 1997, and only 41 prints are known to exist, two of which were never awarded but were instead in the possession of Pokémon TCG rules co-writer Yuichi Konno until 2020. The record-breaking Pikachu Illustrator stands out even more by being the only one to receive a perfect grade of 10 from PSA, meaning the card is in "virtually perfect" condition.