According to the website Luxury Launches, the influencer, WWE fighter and collector achieved a historic milestone: his Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card, considered one of the rarest in the world, was sold for US$ 16.49 million at an auction organized by Goldin Auctions after 41 days of intense bidding among buyers.
+ Mark Zuckerberg buys mansion on island known as the “billionaires’ bunker” in Florida
According to Luxury Launches, the price not only surpassed all initial estimates, but also made this card not only the most expensive in the history of the Pokémon franchise sold at auction, but the most expensive trading card of any kind ever sold at auction, according to Guinness World Records.
Fierce bidding and financial return for Paul
The Pikachu Illustrator is an extremely rare Pokémon card: it is believed that only 39 copies were produced as a prize in an illustration contest in Japan in the 1990s, and Paul’s copy is widely considered the only one in the world with a PSA 10 (“Gem Mint”) grade — the highest condition standard.
Paul had bought this same card in 2021 for about US$ 5.3 million — an amount that, at the time, was already a record in a private transaction — and saw his investment nearly triple at the auction.
Although the total sale reached US$ 16.49 million including additional buyer’s fees, the hammer price was around US$ 13.3 million before fees. Even so, the result represents an impressive return compared to what Paul originally paid.
Delivery and new owner
The winning buyer was identified as A.J. Scaramucci, a well-known investor, who personally received the card from Paul at the close of the auction. The piece was delivered with the same pomp with which Paul had previously displayed it in public — including at events such as WrestleMania 38, where he wore it as part of his custom outfit.
Why is it so valuable?
Experts point to three crucial factors that elevate the value of this item to astronomical levels:
- Extreme rarity — illustrative Pokémon cards like the Pikachu Illustrator are not found in regular packs.
- Impeccable condition (PSA 10) — maximum preservation quality, extremely rare to find.
- History and cultural significance — beyond being collectible, it is an emblematic piece of the history of the Pokémon TCG (Trading Card Game).
Why does this matter?
This auction not only set a new record in the collectibles market, but also drew attention to the growing value of nostalgic and alternative items as investments — driven both by their history and by fandom culture.
Source: Luxury Launches
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
