Logan Paul, the WWE star and online influencer, bought the rarest Pokemon card in the world back in 2021. He paid almost 5.3 million dollars for the Pikachu Illustrator card, setting a Guinness World Record for the highest price in a private sale.[1] Now, he is putting it up for auction through Goldin Auctions starting January 12, with experts guessing it could sell for 7 to 12 million dollars.[1][2]
This card is a PSA 10 grade version of the Pikachu Illustrator, one of just a handful ever made. Only 39 were printed in the 1990s as prizes for a Japanese art contest, making it ultra-rare.[1][2] Paul got a 2.5 million dollar advance from auction boss Ken Goldin to lock in the deal, as shown in the new Netflix series King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.[1]
Pokemon card prices are climbing fast right now. Paul says the market is hotter than ever, fueled by nostalgia as fans who grew up with the game hit their 30s and 40s with real money to spend.[1] With Pokemon turning 30 in 2026, collectors see these cards as smart investments that beat the stock market.[1][3] Goldin calls them an alternative asset class, like sports cards that have sold for over 12 million dollars.[1]
Paul first fractionalized the card on his Liquid Marketplace platform. People bought tokens for tiny shares of it, letting everyday fans own a piece of the action.[3] But now that he is selling the whole card again, some token holders say they have not gotten their promised reimbursements, sparking scam accusations online.[3] Paul claims the funds are safe and holders will be compensated, but no updates have come yet.[3]
For Pokemon collectors watching prices, this sale shows how big fame mixes with card values. Paul turned his purchase into a bigger payday at what he calls the perfect time.[1] Keep an eye on Goldin Auctions for the final hammer price, as it could reset records again.[1][2]
