Rare Pikachu illustrator Pokémon card sells for $4 Million on eBay

Originally awarded in 1998, the Pikachu Illustrator card is considered the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon collecting

The rarest Pokémon card ever made, the Pikachu Illustrator, has officially sold for a staggering $4,000,000 in a recent eBay auction.

Listed by renowned collector smpratte, the PSA 9 Mint card closed at a flat $4 million on September 12, marking one of the highest sales in Pokémon card history.

Originally awarded in 1998 to winners of Japan’s CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest, the Pikachu Illustrator card is considered the “Holy Grail” of Pokémon collecting. With only an estimated 20 to 39 copies ever distributed, its extreme rarity and legendary status have made it the pinnacle of the hobby.

This specific copy is no ordinary specimen—it’s the first known PSA 9 Mint Illustrator, extensively featured in publications including a 2017 SMR article, and even used as the stock image for the card on Bulbapedia. Described in the listing as “the most documented copy of the Illustrator,” its sale adds significant weight to its historical legacy.

While Logan Paul previously made headlines in 2022 for purchasing a PSA 10 version of the card for over $5 million—famously wearing it around his neck at WrestleMania—this PSA 9 copy is among the most iconic in circulation.

Seller smpratte, a respected name in the Pokémon community, emphasized the card’s unmatched rarity, claiming it surpasses even legendary collectibles like the Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle, Black Lotus, and Charizard in scarcity.

With this record-breaking $4 million sale, the Pikachu Illustrator once again proves its dominance as the most valuable Pokémon card of all time.