When a headline says 5.3 million and Pokemon in the same breath, you already know we are not talking about a normal Tuesday. Logan Paul is getting ready to auction off the crown jewel of Pokemon cards, and the pitch here sits right between bold investment and extremely expensive flex. Honestly, it is both. Let’s walk through how we got from an art contest in 1998 to a diamond-draped Pikachu on a chain and a future auction that could set the hobby on fire.
Why this particular Pikachu is a unicorn
The Pikachu Illustrator card was never sold in stores. It was handed out to winners of Japan’s 1998 CoroCoro Comic Pokemon Illustration Contest. Only 39 copies were produced. That scarcity alone would make collectors sweat, but there are two more details that crank it to myth status:
First, the card literally says 'Illustrator' instead of 'Trainer.' That subtle text difference is a big deal to high-end collectors. Second, grading. Of the tiny total, only 20 have ever been graded by PSA. Eight reached PSA 9 (near perfect). And exactly one card in existence hit PSA 10. That one is the card in question.
How Logan actually got it (Italy to Dubai, with a brief WrestleMania detour)
The saga did not start at 5 million. In June 2021, Logan bought a PSA 9 Illustrator in Italy from collector Matt Allen for 1.275 million dollars. A month later, he took that PSA 9 to Dubai, where the trade went down at the Burj Al Arab: his PSA 9 plus cash to secure the only PSA 10 on Earth. The total spend on the PSA 10 is the headline number you have seen: 5.275 million dollars. The card reportedly arrived in a fancy wood-and-leather presentation box, because of course it did.
Now the timeline gets a little messy, so here is the clean version: the trade itself happened in July 2021, but Guinness World Records recognized the purchase price later and handed Logan the certificate backstage at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022. That is why you sometimes see the buy referenced as 2022. There is also video of the handoff floating around Instagram, because nothing this wild happens quietly anymore.
The flex era: chains, diamonds, and a world record
He wore the card around his neck on a 75,000 dollar chain, then upgraded it into an 80,000 dollar diamond Poke Ball pendant. Subtle? Not remotely. Effective branding? Absolutely. It also doubled as a traveling billboard for the Guinness record: most expensive Pokemon trading card sold.
So… was 5.275 million nuts or smart?
Both can be true. Fox Business has pointed out that top-grade Pokemon cards have, over long stretches, outperformed the S&P 500. But that does not mean every collectible holds its value forever. This is a one-of-one grade, on the most chased card in the franchise, purchased by a guy who can summon attention on command. That cocktail is powerful. It is also risky. Please do not sell your house for a shiny Charizard.
The auction plan (and why everyone will be watching)
Logan says the PSA 10 Illustrator will hit the block with Goldin Co in February 2026. He announced the plan on Fox Business’s 'The Big Money Show' and echoed it on X. Given the card’s backstory, the Guinness stamp, and the influencer megaphone behind it, expect this to be one of the most-watched collectibles sales ever. Could it reset its own record? If the right bidder shows up with nostalgia and no ceiling, yes.
'It is a generational game and franchise that has been the number one highest-grossing and most popular franchise in the world. And out of all of it, this card stands as the very best.'
Quick stats (so you can win the group chat)
- Year released: 1998
- Original copies: 39
- PSA graded: 20 total
- PSA 9: 8 copies
- PSA 10: 1 copy (the Logan card)
- Initial buy-in: 1.275M for a PSA 9 (Italy, June 2021)
- PSA 10 deal: 5.275M total (Dubai, July 2021)
- Guinness recognition: certificate handed over at WrestleMania 38 (April 2022)
- Wearable flex: 75K chain, later an 80K diamond Poke Ball pendant
- Auction house: Goldin Co
- Target auction date: February 2026
Bottom line
This card is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for the story that comes with it: an ultra-rare contest prize turned single perfect-grade grail, carried from Italy to Dubai to WrestleMania, hung on a diamond chain, and certified by Guinness. Whether it ends up being the smartest flip in Pokemon history or just the loudest, we are about to find out in 2026.