Logan Paul just dropped a bombshell in the Pokemon card world by putting his ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator card up for auction. He bought it back in 2022 for 5.3 million dollars, making it the most expensive Pokemon card sale ever at the time, and now he expects it to fetch between 7 million and 12 million dollars in early 2026[1][3]. This move spotlights what experts call nostalgia economics, where childhood memories fuel massive price jumps for collectibles like these cards.
Paul, the YouTube star turned WWE wrestler and Prime drink co-founder, calls this card the holy grail of Pokemon. Its a Japanese Pikachu Illustrator graded PSA 10, meaning its in perfect gem mint condition. Out of about 39 known copies worldwide, his is the only one with that top score[2]. He even wore it around his neck on a 75,000 dollar chain during wrestling matches, showing how personal these investments can get[1]. Scarcity drives the value, Paul says. With just one like this out there, demand from nostalgic fans and big-money collectors keeps pushing prices sky-high[1][2].
This ties straight into nostalgia economics. People in their 20s and 30s who grew up with Pokemon in the 90s are now adults with cash to spend. They chase that rush of flipping open old booster packs, and it translates to real money. Paul points out that collectibles like top Pokemon cards have beaten the stock market over the last 20 years[3]. For example, even a one-year hold on trading cards is up 46 percent this year, topping Nvidia stocks at 35 percent and the S&P 500 at 17 percent[3]. eBay searches for Pokemon hit nearly 14,000 per hour in 2024, proving the hype is still burning strong[3].
Paul tells young investors to skip the safe bets like stocks or houses sometimes. If you can grab the best of the best, like this one-of-one card, the rarity and nostalgia combo can pay off big[1][3]. Hes auctioning it through Goldin, which could set a new record and draw out other hidden gems from private collections[2]. For Pokemon card hunters on PokemonPricing.com, this is proof that framing your buys around childhood icons isnt just fun, its smart economics. Watch the auction closely, as the final price will reset what ultra-rare cards are truly worth.
