$16.4M Pikachu Card?! Logan Paul's Record Sale Stuns Collectors!

Okay, folks, let's talk about something truly wild. Logan Paul, the YouTube sensation-turned-wrestler, has just made history in the most flamboyant way possible. His PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card, dripping in jewels, sold for an eye-watering $16.492 million at auction. Yes, you read that right. Sixteen. Point. Five. Million. Dollars. This officially makes it the most expensive trading card ever sold, smashing the previous record – which, believe it or not, was ALSO set by this very card when Paul bought it back in 2021 for a mere $5.27 million. Talk about a return on investment!

$16.4M Pikachu Card?! Logan Paul's Record Sale Stu...

An anonymous buyer (who I'm picturing swimming in a vault of gold coins right now) snagged the coveted card with a winning bid of $13 million. But wait, there's more! Auction fees tacked on another $3.49 million to the final price. And let's not forget the $70,000 jewel-encrusted necklace Paul had specially made to house the card. He even wore it during his WWE debut at WrestleMania 38. Honestly, the whole thing is just peak Logan Paul. Gotta hand it to him, the man knows how to make an entrance (and a profit).

Last month, when Paul announced the auction, he promised to personally deliver this "Mona Lisa of collectibles" to its new owner. And the lead-up to the sale was anything but dull. Remember that bizarre bidding war that briefly involved OnlyFans creator Emmie Bunni and a phantom $10.2 million bid? Yeah, that happened. It's like the whole thing was scripted for maximum drama. I almost expect a reality show spin-off documenting the journey of this card from Logan's neck to its new, presumably heavily guarded, display case.

And then, just last week, Paul found himself embroiled in a spat regarding the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show and its artist, Bad Bunny, leading to a public disagreement with his brother Jake. Seemed like even amidst the chaos, Logan's card auction remained relevant, culminating in a flurry of last-minute bids in the closing hours.

The timing of this record-breaking sale is also pretty interesting. Pokémon cards are experiencing a huge resurgence in popularity, and with Pokémon's 30th-anniversary celebrations just around the corner (February 27th!), all eyes are on the franchise. We're expecting some big announcements about the future of Pokémon, alongside more details about that intriguing Pokémon life-sim spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia. So, congratulations, Logan Paul, for turning a shiny piece of cardboard into a multimillion-dollar spectacle. It's a wild world, and you're definitely making the most of it.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social