Logan Paul recently made waves by talking about his massive Pokémon card investment, and he put a famous Charizard card right at the heart of why these collectibles matter in today’s market. While Paul spotlighted his $5.3 million purchase of the rarest Pikachu Illustrator card back in 2022, he also owns a pristine 1999 Base 1st Edition Charizard Holo that shows how Charizard cards drive Pokémon economics.[1][4] This Charizard is one of the most sought-after cards ever, with similar PSA 10 versions like the 1st Edition Shadowless Holo now valued around $500,000 or more due to their extreme rarity and fan demand.[5]
Paul, the YouTuber, WWE star, and Prime energy drink co-founder, bought that Pikachu Illustrator for a record $5.3 million, making it the priciest Pokémon card sold at the time.[1][2] He even wore it around his neck during wrestling matches, calling it the Holy Grail of cards because it’s the only PSA 10 grade version out of just a few dozen that exist worldwide.[2] Now, he’s set to auction it off in early 2026, betting it will fetch between $7 million and $12 million.[1][2] That could mean a solid profit for him, but he points to Charizard and other icons as proof that Pokémon cards beat traditional investments.
Why Charizard? It sits at the center of Pokémon economics because it’s the ultimate symbol of scarcity and hype. First-edition holos from the 1999 Base Set are super limited, and high-grade ones like Paul’s keep climbing in value as collectors chase perfection.[4][5] Paul argues these cards have outperformed the stock market over the past 20 years, with Pokémon cards up an incredible 3,261% in that time.[2] He tells young investors to skip stocks or real estate if they feel priced out, and instead risk money on collectibles like Charizard when they can afford it.[1][2]
Not everyone agrees it’s that simple. Some experts note that while top cards like Charizard deliver huge returns, the market depends on buyer trends and popularity, unlike stocks that trend up over time.[2] Paul makes about $30 million a year from WWE, podcasts, and deals, so he can take big swings that most people can’t.[3] Still, his Charizard collection highlights a real trend: rare Pokémon cards, especially Charizard, turn nostalgia into serious money as scarcity pushes prices higher at auctions.[1][4][5]
For collectors eyeing prices on PokemonPricing.com, keep watching high-grade Charizard listings. Paul’s move shows how these cards fuel the whole Pokémon economy, drawing in new investors who see them as the next big alternative asset.[2]
