Logan Paul Pokémon Card Sells for $16.5 Million, Setting a New Auction Record

By VeVe Staff · February 17, 2026

The final number is in.

The Logan Paul Pokémon card that captivated the collectibles world has officially sold for $16.5 million, setting a new record for the most expensive trading card ever auctioned.

When we first covered the listing of this Logan Paul card, we explored why the Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 stood in a category of its own. Now, with the sale complete, the impact is no longer hypothetical. It is historic.

If you missed our original breakdown of the rarity, grading significance, and cultural momentum behind this piece, you can revisit it here: Logan Paul Auctions Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 Pokémon Card

Today, we look at what the final sale means for the hobby.

The Final Sale Price and Auction Details

According to reporting from CNN, IGN, Yahoo Entertainment, and ABC13, the Logan Paul Pokémon card sold for approximately $16.5 million including buyer’s premium. The sale was conducted through Goldin Auctions and concluded after an extended bidding period that drew global attention.

The card in question is the Pikachu Illustrator, widely considered the rarest Pokémon card ever produced. Only a small number were awarded to winners of a Japanese illustration contest in the late 1990s. Even fewer exist in high grade.

This specific Logan Paul card is the only copy graded PSA 10 Gem Mint.

That combination of rarity, condition, and mainstream visibility created the perfect storm for a record-breaking Pokémon card auction.

Why the Logan Paul Card Was Different

The Pikachu Illustrator has always been rare. What made this Logan Paul Pokémon moment different was scale.

First, provenance mattered. Logan Paul purchased the card privately in 2021 for $5.275 million, setting a record at the time. That acquisition alone changed the perception of high-end Pokémon cards. Suddenly, six and seven figure price tags were not theoretical.

Second, visibility amplified the narrative. Paul did not treat the card as a vault asset. He wore it publicly. He integrated it into pop culture moments. He made the card part of his personal brand.

That visibility expanded the audience beyond traditional collectors. The Logan Paul Pokémon card became a symbol of how serious the hobby had become.

Third, grading sealed the story. PSA 10 Gem Mint is not just a number. In ultra-rare collectibles, top condition multiplies value exponentially. Being the only PSA 10 example elevated this card into blue-chip territory.

What This Means for Pokémon Card Values

This sale does not mean every vintage Pokémon card will surge overnight. It does signal something larger.

The most expensive Pokémon card ever sold is no longer a private transaction. It is a public auction result, verified and widely reported.

That matters.

Auction transparency reinforces confidence in high-end collectibles. It strengthens the perception of trading cards as alternative assets. It also reshapes ceilings.

When a Logan Paul card clears $16.5 million, it resets psychological barriers across the market. High-grade trophies with true scarcity now have a new benchmark.

Collectors often ask: What is the most expensive Pokémon card in the world? As of today, the answer is clear. It is the Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 once owned by Logan Paul.

The Cultural Impact of Logan Paul Pokémon Coverage

Beyond price, this moment reflects how far the hobby has evolved.

Ten years ago, trading card headlines rarely crossed into mainstream media. Now outlets like CNN and IGN are covering Pokémon card auctions alongside traditional financial and entertainment stories.

The Logan Paul Pokémon narrative accelerated that crossover.

Celebrity ownership brought attention. Rarity sustained interest. The final sale confirmed legitimacy.

For longtime collectors, this is validation. For new entrants, it is an entry point. For the broader public, it is a signal that collectibles are no longer niche.

From Private Purchase to Public Record

When we originally examined this Logan Paul card, the question was whether the auction would surpass expectations. The answer is definitive.

The sale more than triples Paul’s original purchase price from 2021.

That trajectory tells a story about timing, market confidence, and generational nostalgia. Many collectors who grew up with Pokémon now have meaningful purchasing power. The emotional connection to the brand is translating into serious capital at the top end of the market.

The Pikachu Illustrator represents the rarest edge of that spectrum.

The Bigger Question: What Comes Next?

Record sales always raise the same question. Is this the peak or a new foundation?

History suggests that true trophy assets in any collectible category tend to appreciate when three factors align: extreme scarcity, pristine condition, and cultural relevance.

The Logan Paul Pokémon card checks all three boxes.

Whether another Pokémon card crosses the $10 million threshold soon remains to be seen. What is certain is that the ceiling has moved. And for serious collectors, that shift changes portfolio strategy. For casual observers, it reinforces that trading cards can command prices once reserved for fine art.

And for those who followed this story from the moment the auction was announced, this final sale closes one chapter and opens another.

The Logan Paul card is no longer just a viral headline. It is now the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction.

If you want to understand how this card built momentum before the hammer fell, revisit our original coverage and see how the story developed from listing to legacy.

The numbers are historic. The implications are still unfolding.

_{Everything you read here is written by fans, for fans. This article was created by VeVe and is not officially affiliated with or approved by any licensor. All content referenced belongs to their respective rights holders.}