Logan Paul Explains How Internet Culture Reshaped Pokémon Card Values
Logan Paul knows a thing or two about big money moves. The YouTuber, wrestler, and entrepreneur just dropped a bombshell: he’s auctioning off his prized PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, which he snagged for $5.3 million back in 2022. That purchase smashed records and got him a Guinness World Record spot as the buyer of the priciest Pokémon card in a private sale.[1][3]
But Paul is not just flexing his collection. He is schooling young investors on why Pokémon cards beat out boring old stocks, all thanks to the wild world of the internet. “If you have the money, don’t be afraid to take a risk, especially if you’re young,” he told Business Insider. He even wore the card around his neck like a million-dollar necklace during a recent TV spot, calling it the rarest and most valuable in existence.[1][2]
Internet culture flipped the script on Pokémon card prices. Back in the day, these were just kid stuff from the 90s trading card game. Paul grew up playing it and remembers his dad asking for his cards.[4] Fast forward to now, and social media hype from influencers like Paul and his brother Jake turned them into hot investments. Videos of massive hauls, unboxings, and record sales rack up millions of views, driving demand through the roof. Pokémon is now the world’s biggest franchise, bigger than Star Wars, and fans obsess over it online for hours.[2]
Paul points out the numbers: Pokémon as an asset class has crushed the stock market, outperforming it by over 3000% in the last 20 years.[5] Millennials get it, putting 20% of their cash into alternatives like cards, way more than baby boomers at 6% or Gen X at 11%.[1] Why? The internet makes it easy to spot trends, buy rare gems, and flip them fast. Paul’s card is heading to auction in early 2026 through Ken Goldin, the collectibles king featured on Netflix.[2]
He admits it’s not all smooth. Paul once got burned on $3.5 million in fake cards he thought were first-edition Pokémon but turned out to be GI Joe fakes. He got his money back, but it shows the risks in this hype-fueled game.[1] Still, for young folks scrolling TikTok and YouTube, cards feel accessible and exciting compared to Wall Street suits.
Paul’s story shows how online buzz from creators and collectors rewrote the rules. What started as playground trades now fuels seven-figure deals, proving internet culture can turn nostalgia into serious cash. His auction could push prices even higher, keeping the Pokémon market buzzing.
