Logan Paul Sees Pokémon Cards as Real Cultural Assets with Serious Economic Power
Logan Paul, the WWE wrestler and social media star, is putting one of the world’s most valuable Pokémon cards up for auction. He bought the Pikachu Illustrator card back in 2021 for almost $5.3 million, which set a Guinness World Record for the highest price paid for a Pokémon card in a private sale.[1][2][3] Now, he’s teaming up with auction expert Ken Goldin to sell it, and experts think it could fetch between $7 million and $12 million when the bidding starts on January 12.[1]
Paul calls Pokémon cards more than just fun collectibles. He sees them as cultural assets with real economic power, like alternative investments that beat out traditional stocks for younger people.[4][5] In interviews, he told Bloomberg TV that the Pokémon market is hotter than ever, especially with the franchise hitting its 30th anniversary in 2026.[1] Adults who grew up with Pikachu and friends now have money to spend on these cards instead of classic art or stocks.[1]
This specific card is a Japanese promo from 1998, graded a perfect PSA GEM Mint 10, making it the only flawless version known to exist.[3] Even lower-grade copies sell for over $80,000.[5] Paul got a $2.5 million advance from Goldin to lock in the deal, which played out on the new season of Netflix’s King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.[1][2] Goldin even offered $7.5 million to buy it outright before, but Paul held out for the auction buzz.[1]
Paul pushes young collectors not to fear risks on nontraditional assets like these cards.[4] He argues they hold more appeal than stock market plays, especially for millennials who value pop culture items.[1][5] With Pokémon’s huge fanbase and rising demand, cards like this show how collector markets can deliver big returns. The auction on Goldin Auctions could smash records again and prove Paul’s point about their investment muscle.[1]
